This paper presents an overview of a holistic model, the Integrated Competitive Utility System (ICUS) model, which utilities can use to initially quantify the major categories that can enhance their competitive status. It is not the intent of the ICUS model to be a robust procedural paradigm, but rather to demonstrate the synergistic relationships among the categories of benchmarking, technical improvements (i.e., capital improvement programs) and organizational improvements when embarking on competitive programs. Other approaches provide detailed parameters for executing competitive efforts such as the balanced scorecard model. Includes 11 references, tables, figures.