Consumer Engagement – Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative https://smartenergycc.org Listen, Educate, Collaborate Mon, 29 Apr 2024 15:40:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://smartenergycc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/cropped-SECC_LinkedIn_400x400_option2-32x32.png Consumer Engagement – Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative https://smartenergycc.org 32 32 Upcoming Webinar: Cost Concerns Around Electric Vehicles https://smartenergycc.org/upcoming-webinar-cost-concerns-around-electric-vehicles/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=upcoming-webinar-cost-concerns-around-electric-vehicles Mon, 29 Apr 2024 15:38:46 +0000 https://smartenergycc.org/?p=31968 The post Upcoming Webinar: Cost Concerns Around Electric Vehicles appeared first on Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative.

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LATEST NEWS

Upcoming Webinar: Cost Concerns Around Electric Vehicles

April 29, 2024
Latest News


Topics
Webinar, Electric Vehicles



Register Here


During this one-hour Peer Connect Webinar on Wednesday, May 15 at 1 p.m. (ET), we will begin by reviewing the key findings from the "Electric Vehicles: Exploring Consumers' Cost Concerns" survey, which will be released next week.

Then, we will hear from three electricity providers – Austin Energy, SELCO and Puget Sound Energy (PSE) – on how they are working to address equity and affordability concerns around EVs in their respective service territories.

Featured speakers:

  • Amy Atchley, EV Equity Development Manager, Austin Energy
  • Mackenzie Martin, Community Projects Manager, Puget Sound Energy (PSE)
  • Patrick Collins, Integrated Resources Analyst, SELCO
  • Jason McGrade, Deputy Director, Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative

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]]> 2024 State of the Consumer Report https://smartenergycc.org/2024-state-of-the-consumer-report/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2024-state-of-the-consumer-report https://smartenergycc.org/2024-state-of-the-consumer-report/#comments Tue, 16 Apr 2024 17:34:19 +0000 https://smartenergycc.org/?p=31902 The post 2024 State of the Consumer Report appeared first on Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative.

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  • Full Report Members Only

2024 State of the Consumer Report


  • A meta-analysis of SECC’s 2023 research
  • Insights on renewables, smart grid and more
  • Highlights major consumer trends
  • Includes new Snapshot Survey findings
  • Actionable takeaways for stakeholders

Author:
Date: April 16, 2024
Topics: Consumer Data State of Consumers
Resource Type:

Download a copy of the “2024 State of the Consumer” report, a meta-analysis of SECC’s 2023 consumer research studies and Smart Energy Snapshot Surveys that provides a big-picture look at the needs and wants of today’s energy consumers.

The report begins with an overview of the key findings and takeaways from SECC’s 2023 studies on electrification, renewable energy and the smart grid. The second half of the report shares three key themes on energy consumers that emerged from this research.

Recommended Resources


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]]> https://smartenergycc.org/2024-state-of-the-consumer-report/feed/ 1 Upcoming Webinar: 2024 State of the Consumer https://smartenergycc.org/upcoming-webinar-2024-state-of-the-consumer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=upcoming-webinar-2024-state-of-the-consumer Wed, 10 Apr 2024 15:15:16 +0000 https://smartenergycc.org/?p=31928 The post Upcoming Webinar: 2024 State of the Consumer appeared first on Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative.

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LATEST NEWS

Upcoming Webinar: 2024 State of the Consumer

April 10, 2024
Latest News


Topics
Webinar, Consumer Research



Register Here


Over the past year, the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative (SECC) conducted consumer research studies on electrification, the smart grid and renewable energy – plus Snapshot Surveys on energy burdens, outages and more. During this Research Brief Webinar on Wednesday, April 24 at 1 p.m. (ET), we will reveal the three major themes on today’s consumers that emerged from this research.

Following the research briefing, guest speakers from Opinion Dynamics, ICF and Touchstone Energy will share additional research findings and utility case study examples that relate to the three key themes from the “2024 State of the Consumer” report. Finally, we will end the presentation with a 10-minute Q&A session. We invite you to prepare questions for our speakers after reading the new report.

Featured speakers:

  • Jason McGrade, Deputy Director, Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative
  • Laura Orfanedes, Senior Marketing Director, Marketing & Engagement – Energy, ICF
  • Jordan Folks, Associate Director, Demand Flexibility, Opinion Dynamics
  • Mary Ann Cristiano, Senior Director Consumer Marketing, Touchstone Energy

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]]> 2023 Annual Report https://smartenergycc.org/2023-annual-report/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2023-annual-report https://smartenergycc.org/2023-annual-report/#comments Tue, 19 Mar 2024 14:12:53 +0000 https://smartenergycc.org/?p=31878 The post 2023 Annual Report appeared first on Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative.

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2023 Annual Report

The Consumer Voice in the Energy Transition


Download a copy of SECC's “2023 Annual Report: The Consumer Voice in the Energy Transition”, which summarizes the organization’s achievements in consumer research, education, events and more during the 2023 calendar year.

In 2023, we published three research reports, two white papers and several case studies and added to the consumer education library with a new series of resources on electric rate plans and a video on smart thermostats. We also launched the new Smart Energy Snapshot Series and completed three surveys for this series.

Last year was also a successful year for events as we produced the 2023 Consumer Symposium at DISTRIBUTECH International in San Diego, the 2023 Members Meeting & Fall Workshop hosted by Red Ventures and a series of nine webinars, including a Summer Webinar Series on energy affordability.

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]]> https://smartenergycc.org/2023-annual-report/feed/ 1 Upcoming Webinar: Connecting with Consumers in the Community https://smartenergycc.org/upcoming-webinar-connecting-with-consumers-in-the-community/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=upcoming-webinar-connecting-with-consumers-in-the-community Thu, 14 Mar 2024 14:21:26 +0000 https://smartenergycc.org/?p=31870 The post Upcoming Webinar: Connecting with Consumers in the Community appeared first on Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative.

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LATEST NEWS

Upcoming Webinar: Connecting with Consumers in the Community

March 14, 2024
Latest News


Topics
Webinar, Consumer Education



Register Here


As electricity providers move toward customer-centricity, they have a multitude of customer engagement and education strategies to consider for connecting with different types of consumers. During this one-hour Peer Connect Webinar on Tuesday, April 9 at 1 p.m. (ET), we will explore how community events can be an essential part of this engagement mix.

First, we will hear from ComEd, the winner of the Consumer Education category of the 2024 Best Practices Awards, on how their Powering Lives Resource Fairs are connecting customers in need with several types of assistance. Then, FreeState Electric Cooperative in Eastern Kansas will share how they are boosting member engagement through their Crew at the Zoo event.

Featured speakers:

  • Nathan Shannon, President & CEO, Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative
  • Wendy Kutz, Senior Marketing Specialist, ComEd
  • Sarah Farlee, Communications Manager, FreeState Electric Cooperative

The post Upcoming Webinar: Connecting with Consumers in the Community appeared first on Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative.

]]> 2024 Consumers Energy Case Study https://smartenergycc.org/2024-consumers-energy-case-study/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2024-consumers-energy-case-study https://smartenergycc.org/2024-consumers-energy-case-study/#comments Tue, 05 Mar 2024 14:42:48 +0000 https://smartenergycc.org/?p=31834 The post 2024 Consumers Energy Case Study appeared first on Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative.

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Case Study

Consumers Energy


Electricity providers in the U.S. and Canada are making strides in educating and engaging consumers on better controlling how much energy they use, the resulting costs they incur and the benefits of shifting their usage.

These case studies collected by the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative spotlight how smart energy technologies and programs have engaged consumers to empower them to match the energy they use with their needs.


Consumers Energy is one of Michigan’s largest energy providers, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.7 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. The principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, Consumers Energy has 8,879 full-time and seasonal employees and 5,736 megawatts of generating capacity.

The Healthier Homes program, led by Consumers Energy and CLEAResult, works with a health center in Flint, Michigan that refers qualified asthma patients who are likely to benefit from improved indoor air conditions. These customers are then connected to a customer advocate who will be their single point-of-contact as they continue through the program and receive energy efficiency and non-energy waste reduction upgrades.

In 2021, Consumers Energy had close to 100 homes participate in the program, and more than 130 participated in 2022. The projects completed in 2022 included 135 HEPA air purifiers, 386 hypoallergenic mattress covers, 134 dehumidifiers, 260 hypoallergenic pillow coverings and other direct-install measures.

Recommended Resources


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]]> https://smartenergycc.org/2024-consumers-energy-case-study/feed/ 1 Customer Satisfaction and the Smart Grid Report https://smartenergycc.org/customer-satisfaction-and-the-smart-grid-report/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=customer-satisfaction-and-the-smart-grid-report https://smartenergycc.org/customer-satisfaction-and-the-smart-grid-report/#comments Tue, 13 Feb 2024 18:00:50 +0000 https://smartenergycc.org/?p=31717 The post Customer Satisfaction and the Smart Grid Report appeared first on Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative.

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  • Full Report Members Only

Customer Satisfaction and the Smart Grid Report


  • Based on a survey of 1,500 Americans
  • Awareness of, interest in usage information
  • Customer satisfaction with electricity providers
  • Awareness of grid modernization initiatives
  • Willingness to pay for grid improvements

Author:
Date: February 13, 2024
Topics: Consumer Engagement Smart Grid Benefits
Resource Type:

Download a copy of SECC’s “Customer Satisfaction and the Smart Grid” report, which explores whether consumers are engaging with the electricity usage information delivered by smart grid technologies and whether they are generally seeing the benefits promised by grid modernization.

Based on a nationally representative survey of 1,500 consumers, the report investigates consumer support for grid modernization (including willingness to pay for grid improvements), awareness of and interest in detailed electricity usage information, satisfaction with and trust of their electricity providers, and more.

The research found that 62 percent of Americans are reviewing usage information at least monthly and that 82 percent of these consumers are using this information to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, including making changes to their daily routines (47 percent) and installing energy-efficient appliances (25 percent).

Recommended Resources


The post Customer Satisfaction and the Smart Grid Report appeared first on Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative.

]]> https://smartenergycc.org/customer-satisfaction-and-the-smart-grid-report/feed/ 4 Upcoming Webinar: “Customer Satisfaction and the Smart Grid” https://smartenergycc.org/upcoming-webinar-customer-satisfaction-and-the-smart-grid/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=upcoming-webinar-customer-satisfaction-and-the-smart-grid Wed, 31 Jan 2024 16:21:35 +0000 https://smartenergycc.org/?p=31705 The post Upcoming Webinar: “Customer Satisfaction and the Smart Grid” appeared first on Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative.

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LATEST NEWS

Upcoming Webinar: “Customer Satisfaction and the Smart Grid”

January 31, 2024
Latest News


Topics
Webinar, Consumer Research, Smart Grid



Register Here


During this Research Brief Webinar on Thursday, February 15 at 1 p.m. (ET), we will conduct a deep dive into the "Customer Satisfaction and the Smart Grid" report, which was based on a nationally representative survey of 1,500 Americans.

The new report explores consumer support for grid modernization (including willingness to pay for grid improvements), consumer interest in home electricity reports and other formats of energy usage data, consumer satisfaction with and trust of their electricity providers, and much more.

We will close the presentation with a 15-minute Q&A session and a brief preview of what you can expect at SECC's 2024 Consumer Symposium, which will be co-located with DISTRIBUTECH International in Orlando on Monday, February 26.

Featured speakers:

  • Marie D'Arrigo, Vice President, Public Services, Maru/Matchbox
  • Nathan Shannon, President & CEO, Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative
  • Ben Pierson, Manager of Beneficial Electrification, Sioux Valley Energy
  • Jay Lasseter, Vice President – Customer Delivery, Americas, Landis+Gyr

The post Upcoming Webinar: “Customer Satisfaction and the Smart Grid” appeared first on Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative.

]]> Optimizing Energy Usage with a Smart Thermostat Video https://smartenergycc.org/optimizing-energy-usage-with-a-smart-thermostat-video/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=optimizing-energy-usage-with-a-smart-thermostat-video https://smartenergycc.org/optimizing-energy-usage-with-a-smart-thermostat-video/#comments Wed, 10 Jan 2024 18:32:40 +0000 https://smartenergycc.org/?p=31633 The post Optimizing Energy Usage with a Smart Thermostat Video appeared first on Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative.

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Video

Optimizing Energy Usage with a Smart Thermostat



Smart thermostat ownership continues to grow with each passing year. However, many consumers – even long-time owners of these devices and those that are more tech-savvy – are not always aware of how they can maximize the usefulness of this smart home technology.

In this 60-second educational video, we walk through five different actions that consumers can take with a smart thermostat to become a smarter energy consumer, such as participating in a demand response program and getting useful data on HVAC performance.

Share this video with your customers to help them understand how they can optimize their home's energy usage with a smart thermostat. Then, visit our consumer website for other educational resources on EVs, renewable energy, electric rates, the smart grid and more.

Recommended Resources


The post Optimizing Energy Usage with a Smart Thermostat Video appeared first on Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative.

]]> https://smartenergycc.org/optimizing-energy-usage-with-a-smart-thermostat-video/feed/ 1 Extreme Weather and Power Outages Infographic https://smartenergycc.org/extreme-weather-and-power-outages-infographic/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=extreme-weather-and-power-outages-infographic https://smartenergycc.org/extreme-weather-and-power-outages-infographic/#comments Mon, 04 Dec 2023 20:00:23 +0000 https://smartenergycc.org/?p=31556 The post Extreme Weather and Power Outages Infographic appeared first on Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative.

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Infographic

Extreme Weather and Power Outages: Communicating with Customers


SECC’s third Snapshot Survey, “Extreme Weather and Power Outages: Communicating with Customers”, reveals insights for electricity providers on how to best communicate with consumers during power outages and help them better prepare for potential outages and extreme weather.

Fielded to 1,525 respondents in late October, this short-form survey found that 41 percent of consumers are more concerned with power outages now than they were 10 years ago. And only 10 percent stated they are less concerned about outages – despite significant investments in grid modernization.

View the infographic here to discover more of the top findings and figures from “Extreme Weather and Power Outages: Communicating with Customers”, the latest installment in the Smart Energy Snapshot Series. Members are also encouraged to download the slides for the complete survey results.


Recommended Resources


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