Blueflame Consulting and Research is an east-coast consulting practice specializing in strategic research for financial services organizations, utilities, large billers and payment processors. Blueflame has been advising and assisting in regulatory environments with natural gas and electric utilities, and utility customers for eighteen years. It is a women-owned small business based in Ft Myers, Florida.
Ed Bachelder leads Blueflame's research and analysis capabilities and provide clients with expertise in the areas of:
1) Consumer & Business Market Research
2) Billing & Payment Processing
3) Product Design & Demand Estimation
4) Lean Six Sigma Process Improvements
Rebecca Bachelder has extensive experience in utility ratemaking and as an expert witness in matters including natural gas expansion programs, performance based regulation, cost allocation, marginal cost studies, rate design, cost-of-gas adjustments, and non-gas cost tracking mechanisms as well as issues associated with competitive supply, unbundling, balancing and transportation tariffs. Ms. Bachelder also has expertise in cost accounting and benchmarking. She has worked in the utility industry for over 30 years.
For information please contact:
Rebecca Bachelder, President email: rbachelder@bflame.com
Telephone: (781) 662-8584
Mobile: (781) 248-5376 Ed Bachelder, Director of Research
email ed.bachelder@bflame.com
Telephone: 781-662-8584
Mobile: (781) 307-1460
In the News...
Nacha engaged Blueflame Consulting to research likely impact of Covid-19 on Accounts Payable (AP) and Accounts Receiveable Operations. The survey and indepth interviews identified key issues and challenges corporates face verifying and maintaining accurate vendor files and the need for improved directory tools. See press release here
The Federal Reserve Payments Study team recently released a new report detailing the number and value of payments in the U.S. for Calendar Year 2018. The data showed continued growth in all forms of electronic payments (except for EBT) and steady declines in paper check volumes. Additional detailed information will be forthcoming in 2020. The NPIPS 2019 Triennial Survey data collection is complete and a summary report was distributed to participants. If you did not receive a copy of the Summary Report or would like to amend submitted information please contact Ed Bachelder at Ebachelder@frbnpips.net
Previously the Federal Reserve released a report on the number and value of fraudulent payments.
Among the important findings:
- Noncash payments fraud (comprised of card, ACH, and check fraud) rose to $8.34 billion in 2015.
- Generally payments fraud was a small fraction of the value of all payments, less than fifty cents per $10,000 in noncash payments in 2012 and 2015
- As a percentage share of all payments by both dollar value and number of payments, however, payments fraud is increasing. Also in 2012 and 2015, most payments fraud is by card.
- From 2015 to 2016, in-person card fraud declined and remote card fraud increased.
You can download the full report, including charts and data tables at https://www.federalreserve.gov/paymentsystems/fr-payments-study.htm
The Federal Reserve System engaged Blueflame Consulting and Research, LLC to conduct the 2020 Networks, Processors and Issuers Payments Study (NPIPS). The survey gathered information on core payment methods for calendar year 2019. The data collection is complete and a report should be forthcoming in 2021.
An article that Ed Bachelder helped author NACHA - Mobile Payments and ACH
https://www.nacha.org/system/files/resources/NACHA_MobileACH_WP_Final.pdf
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