Today as then: competent, close and friendly
Stadtwerke Gießen AG (SWG) celebrates ten years of the infoCentre on the market square with its customers. An action day offered visitors to the infoCentre winter attractions. The ski simulator not only ensured a speedy descent, but also lots of fun. For great entertainment, the municipal utilities presented an ice sculptor who transformed blocks of ice into sculptures. Afterwards, guests were able to refresh themselves with vitamin cocktails in the igloo tent.
Customer proximity and customer service were already hugely important to the Giessen-based energy supplier ten years ago - and nothing has changed in this respect. Because long before the customer service centre was established on the market square, it all started with a showroom in the high-rise office building. The showroom later moved from the tower block to the corner of Bahnhofstrasse and Westanlage. In 1979, the first infoCentre was built at Bahnhofstrasse 56, and SWG's range of local services grew with the change of location. Over the years, the municipal utilities endeavoured to maintain the concept of being close to the customer, competent and friendly. When the infoZentrum on Marktplatz opened its doors for the first time on 21 January 1994, the slogan was "closer, better and longer". SWG was indeed setting an example back then. The Giessen-based energy supplier created an accessibility that was not yet common in the utility sector. Practically all important information on energy and water supply and customised mobility in and around Giessen was available from Monday to Saturday on the market square. Even today, Stadtwerke and its 17-strong team still offer customers a comprehensive service at a central location in Giessen city centre. The SWG infoCentre is open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm and on Saturdays from 9 am to 2 pm. A total of 13 employees from the infoCentre take care of all matters relating to energy and water supply. In the information and service area, the employees take care of meter registrations, changes and cancellations. Customers have their instalments adjusted or their bank details changed and pay their bills. The employees advise customers on changing tariffs and also carry this out. In total, over 40 thousand customers used this service last year. On the upper floor, the energy consultants offer individual advice on heating technology, environmental technology and supply technology every day. The household appliance advice service helps customers to identify potential power guzzlers, for example. Last year alone, the energy experts advised around 3,500 customers. Special events with sales promotions were also particularly popular with customers. Some special promotions are linked to the publication of the customer magazine "elahn" and therefore only take place quarterly. Between the special promotions, SWG organises numerous events, such as Water Day or exhibitions on current topics. Children's craft activities are now also held regularly at the infoCentre. The employees put together teaching materials and also organise the traditional Water Olympics at the Queckborn waterworks. The team from the marketplace also guides groups of visitors through the waterworks and the SWG premises.
In addition to useful tips on energy and water supply, the RMV mobility centre in the infoZentrum offers information and services for tailor-made mobility. Tickets have always been available at the infoCentre. But in September 1999, the RMV mobility centre improved on conventional ticket sales. Since then, the SWG team has been providing information even more quickly and flexibly. Information that previously had to be painstakingly and time-consumingly sought out from brochures and leaflets can now be found through direct access to the RMV information platform. The sales and information islands make it possible to provide customers with targeted and discreet advice. The four-strong team at the mobility centre offers innovative RMV mobility advice with interesting tips on leisure activities and up-to-date transport information. The SWG staff not only sell all RMV season tickets, but also advise passengers on everything from buying an annual school travelcard to deciding on an RMV annual travelcard subscription. Passengers can of course also find out about the special fares offered by Stadtwerke Gießen. Around 300 to 400 customers now use this service every day. The staff at the mobility centre are on hand to ensure that passengers always travel with the cheapest fare.