January 4
AEP Ohio Launches Enervee Checkout
Top consumer smart grid news hand-selected and brought to you by the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative.
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AEP Ohio is the first utility in the world to deploy the Enervee Checkout application that enables customers shopping on the AEP Ohio Marketplace to take advantage of instant and dynamic discounts for energy-saving products, in partnership with online retailer lightbulbs.com. Customers can now take advantage of instant discounts while shopping online, reducing the upfront cost to purchase the product and speeding up the process of traditional, after-purchase rebates.
PPL Electric Utilities recently launched its PPL Marketplace, where customers can purchase discounted energy-efficient products. The site features ENERGY STAR-certified products including LED lighting, advanced power strips, smart thermostats, weatherization and much more. Using the online marketplace eliminates rebate paperwork and instantly applies incentives into the final purchase price.
The U.S. electricity system is undergoing major changes today, including the expansion of distributed energy resources, the deployment of Advanced Metering Infrastructure and the impact of evolving customer expectations. In response to these and other factors, including the need to reduce peak loads and a desire to align energy consumption with renewable energy production, electricity providers and regulators are increasingly exploring new rate designs and pricing options for residential customers.
Technology in the U.S. power and utilities sector will continue to evolve in the new year as customers demand more involvement and control over their electricity purchasing and energy use, according to Deloitte’s 2019 Power and Utilities Industry Outlook. But author Scott Smith, vice chairman of U.S. Power & Utilities for Deloitte, questions whether current regulatory structures can adapt fast enough to keep pace with the evolution seen in utilities’ technology and business models.
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Industry News
Conscientious energy consumption isn't just about turning off the lights, or even replacing incandescent bulbs with more efficient LEDs. It's about consumers better understanding their own home's energy use, seeking opportunities to conserve and contributing to more efficient, reliable energy systems. Utilities have an opportunity today to more actively engage with customers.
2018 is over, and a new year of energy evolution is upon us. The past year laid a robust foundation for growth in 2019. It ended with six states and territories, including two of the three largest state economies, committing to 100 percent clean electricity. The solar industry weathered the much-feared tariffs without excessive bleeding. The list of cleantech failures was much shorter than in previous years.
DP&L recently announced it has filed a distribution modernization plan with PUCO that includes installing 100,000 smart meters every year until they're in place for all customers. The AES subsidiary said its proposal aligns with PUCO's PowerForward grid vision issued last summer and will ultimately provide more than $770 million in benefits on a net-present-value basis.
I&M launched a new program this season to help customers pay their energy bills and weatherize their homes, with funds both from the company and with the assistance of other interested customers. It is called the Neighbor to Neighbor Program and to qualify customers must meet the eligibility guidelines of the Home Energy Assistance Program, among others. Various agencies will be available for customers to apply through, however, which agencies have yet to be announced.
