{"id":42874,"date":"2025-10-17T10:52:50","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T15:52:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/?p=42874"},"modified":"2025-10-17T10:52:50","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T15:52:50","slug":"protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"Protecting Revenue and Vulnerable Customers Through Assistance Programs"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"42874\" class=\"elementor elementor-42874\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2c3c1bc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"78127\" data-id=\"2c3c1bc\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b7fc828\" data-eae-slider=\"73993\" data-id=\"b7fc828\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f1ad678 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f1ad678\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Utility debt creates a dual crisis: financial strain on utilities and growing hardship for customers. Traditional methods are not working. Utilities need smarter, more empathetic strategies to protect their communities while maintaining their revenue. A customer-centric, data-driven approach like Smartflex can transform the collections process into a smarter, more compassionate system that benefits utilities and the communities they serve.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2f3333b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"74759\" data-id=\"2f3333b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-07c030d\" data-eae-slider=\"37761\" data-id=\"07c030d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2699e21 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2699e21\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Across the utility industry, rising debt levels are creating a growing strain on customers and utilities. More households are falling behind on payments, and for many, even a single missed bill can lead to cascading financial stress. At the same time, utilities face mounting pressure to maintain cash flow and operational stability. Traditional tools, like disconnections and aggressive collection programs, may recover revenue in the short term, but they often do so at a steep social cost. Cutting off essential services can further destabilize vulnerable households, undermining long-term customer relationships and public trust.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This reality puts utilities at the center of a complex challenge:<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> how to protect revenue while staying true to their role as community stewards<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. It requires a shift in mindset from reactive debt recovery to proactive customer support.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">One of the most effective ways to manage this challenge is to rethink the role of\u202f<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Customer Assistance Programs (CAPs)<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u202fat a strategic level for social good and financial sustainability. CAPs, when well-designed, provide targeted support through bill discounts, extended payment terms, and debt forgiveness options, helping customers maintain access to services while preventing debt from escalating beyond control. However, CAPs alone are not enough. Utilities also need\u202f<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">flexible, data-driven payment programs<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u202fthat are tailored to customer profiles and risk levels. These plans should go beyond simple installment options, allowing customer service representatives to negotiate payment terms based on factors such as arrears age, customer type, bill size, and location.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Additionally, Collaboration with government programs such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in the United States, and access to federal funding remain largely manual and fragmented. This lack of integration makes it challenging for utilities to deliver financial support efficiently and at scale. To broaden the impact, utilities must also build partnerships with nonprofits and private organizations, which can significantly expand the pool of resources available to customers.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In fact, LIHEAP\u2019s resources were reduced by over 30%, significantly limiting its capacity to support households in need. This strain on energy assistance programs is not unique to the United States, it reflects a broader international challenge. For example, Spain has introduced a social bonus program that provides eligible families with a 25\u201340% discount on their utility bills. However, despite such initiatives, these measures still fall short of offering sufficient support to the most vulnerable populations.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> [1]<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Equally important is a proactive approach to customer engagement and education. Providing insights into energy usage, sending early alerts to at risk accounts, and communicating in customers\u2019 preferred languages and channels all help utilities intervene before debt becomes unmanageable. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy\u2019s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) generated approximately $3.8 billion in health and household-related non-energy benefits for its clients, equivalent to about $14,000 per household (in present value dollars) [2]. These strategies help reduce energy consumption, leading to lower utility bills and making them ultimately more affordable. However, bringing these strategies to life requires the right digital infrastructure; manual processes alone cannot keep up with the scale or urgency of today&#8217;s challenges.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h3>This is where a customer-centric, holistic, and powerful digital solution can make a real difference.<span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Smartflex unifies several strategies into one intelligent, data-driven platform that enables utilities to deliver <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">personalized, automated, and proactive customer support<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. The system segments customers in real time based on behavioral and financial data, allowing utilities to offer targeted CAP benefits and payment plans without manually reviewing every case. With built-in automation, Smartflex can apply discounts, launch installment offers, and trigger proactive alerts, reducing the risk of disconnection before it becomes unavoidable.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Beyond internal operations, Smartflex also <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">integrates with government and nonprofit platforms<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, streamlining the application and approval process. This ensures that more customers receive the help they\u2019re eligible for, more quickly. At the same time, self-service capabilities empower customers to manage their repayment journey, making the experience less intimidating and more collaborative.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">For example, one of our clients successfully implemented a targeted customer assistance program by partnering with a non-profit organization. Using effective segmentation, they identified a specific group of eligible customers. <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">They established an automated data exchange to manage the program efficiently. Internally, Smartflex was key to guaranteeing the integrity of the utility processes. Its powerful billing engine flawlessly executed all necessary billing adjustments based on the information received from the partner. As a result, <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">this initiative provided financial support to <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">100%<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> of customers <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">who requested help and received it, enabling the utility to strengthen community ties and reduce financial risk.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">By combining <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">customer intelligence, flexible payment options, external collaboration<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, and <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">smart automation<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, Smartflex helps utilities lower disconnection rates, improve collections, and build trust through one cohesive solution.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The future of utility collections isn\u2019t just more efficient, it\u2019s more human. By investing in smarter, more empathetic strategies, utilities can reduce financial risk while better serving their communities. With Smartflex, these strategies become scalable, actionable, and impactful, transforming customer assistance from a cost center into a powerful driver of revenue protection and public value.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h3>References\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3><p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">[1] <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) &#8211; <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/neada.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/August-Summer-Hardship-Report-Final.pdf\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">https:\/\/neada.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/August-Summer-Hardship-Report-Final.pdf<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">[2]<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> U.S Department of Energy &#8211; https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/eere\/articles\/more-just-energy-efficiency-program-weatherization-ensures-health-and-safety<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-3f95eae e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-eae-slider=\"49434\" data-id=\"3f95eae\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-84c2c6f elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"84c2c6f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hs-cta-embed hs-cta-simple-placeholder hs-cta-embed-196575641479\"\r\n  style=\"max-width:100%; max-height:100%; width:800px;height:347px\" data-hubspot-wrapper-cta-id=\"196575641479\">\r\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/cta-service-cms2.hubspot.com\/web-interactives\/public\/v1\/track\/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLLgAI3wv%2FSvohTakXxWeG2ytiyKZEGDUbj9Mb3eFnTzVsCgy5TyNrSJ1kIfbtmiv9sCJeUgldcPaFZfO2YrAdqlXYZktqGwM25Cxl91QuSecewdoQe0CXUZzN41dic2VLCtbSgve5465n05HaH4OZloSF7B2s3G1cQKM0aaIAsVvoBQ2Q%3D%3D&webInteractiveContentId=196575641479&portalId=2545432\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\">\r\n    <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Talk to us!\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/2545432\/interactive-196575641479.png\" style=\"height: 100%; width: 100%; object-fit: fill\"\r\n      onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" \/>\r\n  <\/a>\r\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-9d5969c elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-eae-slider=\"62516\" data-id=\"9d5969c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-53cc77f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"53cc77f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ready to elevate your utility capabilities?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1796a5b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1796a5b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Contact us today to discover how Smartflex can transform your operations and drive future-ready growth.<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-33c382e elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"33c382e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/contact\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">CONTACT NOW<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Utility debt creates a dual crisis: financial strain on utilities and growing hardship for customers. Traditional methods are not working. Utilities need smarter, more empathetic strategies to protect their communities while maintaining their revenue. A customer-centric, data-driven approach like Smartflex can transform the collections process into a smarter, more compassionate system that benefits utilities and the communities they serve. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":42878,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42874","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry-articles","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.4 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Protecting Revenue and Vulnerable Customers Through Assistance Programs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Utilities need smarter, more empathetic strategies to protect their communities while maintaining their revenue.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Protecting Revenue and Vulnerable Customers Through Assistance Programs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Utilities need smarter, more empathetic strategies to protect their communities while maintaining their revenue.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Open Intelligence\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/OpenSmartflex\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-10-17T15:52:50+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/customer-assistance-programs-00-min.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"8256\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"5504\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Oscar Garcia\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@opensmartflex\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@opensmartflex\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Oscar Garcia\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Oscar Garcia\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/#\/schema\/person\/43d525f6634d15ab4484ee51612ef69a\"},\"headline\":\"Protecting Revenue and Vulnerable Customers Through Assistance Programs\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-17T15:52:50+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/\"},\"wordCount\":942,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/customer-assistance-programs-00-min.jpeg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Industry articles\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/\",\"name\":\"Protecting Revenue and Vulnerable Customers Through Assistance Programs\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/customer-assistance-programs-00-min.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-17T15:52:50+00:00\",\"description\":\"Utilities need smarter, more empathetic strategies to protect their communities while maintaining their revenue.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/customer-assistance-programs-00-min.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/customer-assistance-programs-00-min.jpeg\",\"width\":8256,\"height\":5504},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Protecting Revenue and Vulnerable Customers Through Assistance Programs\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/\",\"name\":\"Open Intelligence\",\"description\":\"Software for utility companies\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/#organization\"},\"alternateName\":\"Open\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Open Intelligence\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/cropped-color-open-intelligence-logo-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/cropped-color-open-intelligence-logo-1.png\",\"width\":974,\"height\":378,\"caption\":\"Open Intelligence\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/OpenSmartflex\/\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/opensmartflex\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/weareopenintelligence\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCHpHSdiqVTs0OvdEYJxCqiQ\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/#\/schema\/person\/43d525f6634d15ab4484ee51612ef69a\",\"name\":\"Oscar Garcia\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Protecting Revenue and Vulnerable Customers Through Assistance Programs","description":"Utilities need smarter, more empathetic strategies to protect their communities while maintaining their revenue.","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Protecting Revenue and Vulnerable Customers Through Assistance Programs","og_description":"Utilities need smarter, more empathetic strategies to protect their communities while maintaining their revenue.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/","og_site_name":"Open Intelligence","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/OpenSmartflex\/","article_published_time":"2025-10-17T15:52:50+00:00","og_image":[{"width":8256,"height":5504,"url":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/customer-assistance-programs-00-min.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Oscar Garcia","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@opensmartflex","twitter_site":"@opensmartflex","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Oscar Garcia","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/"},"author":{"name":"Oscar Garcia","@id":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/#\/schema\/person\/43d525f6634d15ab4484ee51612ef69a"},"headline":"Protecting Revenue and Vulnerable Customers Through Assistance Programs","datePublished":"2025-10-17T15:52:50+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/"},"wordCount":942,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/customer-assistance-programs-00-min.jpeg","articleSection":["Industry articles"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/","url":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/","name":"Protecting Revenue and Vulnerable Customers Through Assistance Programs","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/customer-assistance-programs-00-min.jpeg","datePublished":"2025-10-17T15:52:50+00:00","description":"Utilities need smarter, more empathetic strategies to protect their communities while maintaining their revenue.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/customer-assistance-programs-00-min.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/customer-assistance-programs-00-min.jpeg","width":8256,"height":5504},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/protecting-revenue-vulnerable-customers-through-assistance-programs\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Protecting Revenue and Vulnerable Customers Through Assistance Programs"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/","name":"Open Intelligence","description":"Software for utility companies","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/#organization"},"alternateName":"Open","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/#organization","name":"Open Intelligence","url":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/cropped-color-open-intelligence-logo-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/cropped-color-open-intelligence-logo-1.png","width":974,"height":378,"caption":"Open Intelligence"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/OpenSmartflex\/","https:\/\/x.com\/opensmartflex","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/weareopenintelligence","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCHpHSdiqVTs0OvdEYJxCqiQ"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/#\/schema\/person\/43d525f6634d15ab4484ee51612ef69a","name":"Oscar Garcia"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42874","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42874"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42874\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42880,"href":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42874\/revisions\/42880"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42878"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42874"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42874"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.openintl.com\/ambienteTrabajo2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42874"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}