Agenda
2025 Members Meeting & Fall Workshop
Thank you again to our utility partner Puget Sound Energy for hosting this year's event!
Keynote Address: Aaron August, SVP, Chief Customer & Transformation Officer, PSE
During this keynote address - Aaron August, SVP, Chief Customer & Transformation Officer for Puget Sound Energy shares how engaging with their consumers through new strategic initiatives around demand response, time-of-use (TOU) rates and virtual power plants, while maintaining a steadfast focus on customers is resulting in a positive impact in the evolving energy landscape.
Consumer Spotlight: Low Income & Gen Z
Energy affordability, understanding of energy technologies, as well as willingness to take part in energy programs, impacts all consumers, but those in lower-income and younger demographics are often much harder for utilities to reach and connect with. This session highlights some findings from our latest Spotlight series and how utilities should act for meaningful impact.
- Leigh Winterbottom, Director of Rate Marketing, ICF
- Angelika Hoelger, Research Manager, Touchstone Energy Cooperatives
- Danielle Olaya, Community Relations Program Manager, Salt River Project
- Mehul Trivedi, Chief Innovation Officer, SEW.AI
Consumer Spotlight: Rural vs. Suburban vs. Urban
How much does location impact energy consumers and their understanding of utility programs and services? This session provides a closer look at the findings from our latest Spotlight series to show how and where consumers live results in different energy habits with the utilities that serve them.
- Scott Rosenberg, Co-Founder & CEO, 257
- Sara Bowles, Program Manager, Tacoma Power
- Paul Lindfors, Program Director, CLEAResult
- Thomas Sagstetter, Sr. Product Portfolio Manager, Xcel Energy
Challenges of Electrification: Managing Customer Behavior and Expectations
This session explores residential customer experiences with cold climate and hybrid heat pump systems, including perceived energy savings, bill savings, thermal comfort and thermostat setback habits.
- Geoff Barker, PhD, Principal Consultant, DNV
- Jesse Durst, Senior Market Analyst, Energy Efficiency Services, Puget Sound Energy
- Blake Herrschaft, Electrification Programs Manager, Peninsula Clean Energy
Connecting Consumers to Time-of-Use Rates
SECC research shows more consumers have made a rate change recently but not many understand what their new time-of-use rate plan entails and how to maximize its benefit. This session showcases how a successful TOU rate plan can become a win-win-win for everyone.
- Darleen DeRosa, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, Bidgely Inc.
- Scott Engstrom, Chief Customer Officer, GridX
- Vanessa Richter, Energy Industry Solutions Expert, Oracle Opower
- Kevin Rivard, Product Development Manager, New Products & Services, Puget Sound Energy
