We’re excited to announce that a new case study – “Empowering Consumers to Make Informed Solar Decisions” – is now available for download. The case study explores the development and redesign of Austin Energy's Solar 101 course.

Since 2004, Austin Energy has helped residential customers adopt solar through upfront incentives that lower installation costs. However, as solar adoption grew in the Austin area, so did misleading marketing and misinformation that created confusion and reduced satisfaction for customers.

Recognizing the need to offer a trusted, fact-based resource that protects customers from these types of misinformation, in 2018, Austin Energy launched Solar 101, which included an online course and 10-question quiz, as a prerequisite for receiving the incentive.

After receiving feedback from customer surveys, Austin Energy embarked on a redesign of the Solar 101 course. The updated course aimed to prioritize accessibility, clarity and Austin-specific guidance, empowering customers to recognize trustworthy information and make informed decisions about solar.

SECC’s case study archive now features nearly 50 success stories from electricity providers across the United States and Canada, including Cobb EMC, NB Power, Consumers Energy, Duke Energy Florida, Evergy, Dominion Energy and more.