In the next section of SECC’s Spring Work-from-Home Webinar Series, we will take a look at lower-income consumers. On the April 30 webinar, SECC’s Deputy Director Nathan Shannon will set the stage with key findings from the “Spotlight on Low-Income Consumers” research. Wally Nixon, a legal advisor with the Arkansas PSC, will then discuss affordable energy efficiency programs for underserved communities.

In the second webinar on May 7, we will be joined by Carmen Carruthers, outreach manager for the Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota, and Tina Koecher, manager of customer experience operations at Minnesota Power. The speakers will discuss Minnesota Power’s CARE program, which offers income-qualified households a discount on their electric bills, and other strategies for better serving lower-income consumers.

Finally, on the May 14 webinar, Tomer Borenstein, a co-founder with BlastPoint, will discuss how electricity providers can identify and assist their most vulnerable customers, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the second half of the webinar, Angie Ostaszewski, an energy efficiency advisor at Ameren Illinois, will discuss the utility’s energy efficiency programs for underserved communities.