On the basis of the resolution of the government of the Slovak Republic, Electricité de France International acquired a 49 % share, from the National Property Fund of the Slovak Republic, of the regional distribution company Stredoslovenská energetika, a.s. (SSE). The French company Electricité de France (EDF), which invested in Stredoslovenská energetika, a.s. (SSE) as a strategic partner, brought with it in particular access to a large group of companies belonging to the EDF family distributed across the entire world.
Today, SSE constitutes a strong component of the EDF Group, which is active in 27 countries world-wide, is a leader in the European market for electricity, has been around for more than 50 years, employs several thousands of people and generates annual turnovers in billions. The know-how brought by EDF to SSE significantly strengthened the position of the company and assured its full functionality in all activity indicators. And not only of those that are directly linked to the distribution and sale of electricity. The investment by EDF in SSE also included the creation of the Project for Competitiveness and Integration of SSE into EDF (abbr. PCI). PCI defined priority actions related to the increase of profitability of the SSE business and to a better approach towards customers.
SSE supplies energy for life and business to almost 700,000 customers and 30,000 business entities and organizations. It provides comprehensive services to its customers connected with electricity distribution and supply.
SSE focuses on the development of a market-focused marketing approach, i.e. on the identification of the needs of customers, on the measurement of their satisfaction and on the immediate use of this knowledge in practice, and on the generation of such new services as are desired by customers. In SSE, each big client has its own personal business representative who provides the client with information about all that is related to the supply of electricity (information on payments, economy measures, recommended tariffs, etc.). This person, who has specific responsibility for each client, also promptly resolves all problematic situations with them. In relation to small and medium-sized clients, SSE increased the capacity of its Customer Services which are also provided through a Customer Call Centre. Any client has the opportunity to address any questions regarding the supply of electricity to this Centre at any time of the day.
The improvement of the company’s operation, the higher effectiveness of all types of activities and an active approach towards customers jointly created conditions for the investment of SSE in its further development. This year, the company, as an investor, is commencing a project to build a power generating plant the launch into operation of which is scheduled for the beginning of 2010. Upon becoming affiliated with the EDF Group, the company crossed geographic borders. Upon the launch of the project to generate electricity, the company intends to expand beyond the limits of its traditional principal activities and thus to contribute actively to the stability of the power system.
The results of restructuring, the decrease in costs, the development of synergies within the Group and in particular the development of business, while keeping and improving the standards of customer service, significantly contributed to the improvement of the financial situation of the company. The management of SSE is especially proud of its recent business success, mainly in the automotive sector – the top ranking industrial sector in Slovakia. At present, SSE is an exclusive supplier of two principal automobile producers which manufacture their vehicles in Slovakia: PSA and KIA. This despite the fact that the PSA plant is situated outside the territory normally serviced by SSE.
One of the key indicators for companies which belong to the EDF Group is also the investment in their own employees. Our employees are naturally loyal towards our company. In particular, it is the strong identification of our employees with the company strategy that forms a positive aspect. This high degree of identification is recorded also thanks to the socially-oriented employee policy and culture, and thanks to the joint approach of the management and departments towards the priorities in accordance with the EDF Group culture which is defined in the European Social Charter of EDF.
