In the first webinar of the series on lower-income consumers, SECC's Deputy Director Nathan Shannon will set the stage with the key findings from the "Spotlight on Low-Income Consumers: Revisiting Their Needs and Wants" report. In the second half of the presentation, Wally Nixon, a legal advisor with the Arkansas Public Service Commission, will discuss […]

In the second webinar of the series on lower-income consumers, we will be joined by Carmen Carruthers, outreach manager for the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) of Minnesota, and Tina Koecher, manager of customer experience operations at Minnesota Power, an electric utility serving about 150,000 customers in northeastern Minnesota. The featured speakers will discuss Minnesota Power's […]

In the final webinar on lower-income consumers, Tomer Borenstein, a co-founder with BlastPoint, will discuss how electricity providers can identify and assist their customers that are the most vulnerable, especially in light of the coronavirus pandemic. For the second half of the webinar, we will be joined by Angie Ostaszewski, an energy efficiency advisor at […]

In the next section of the Spring Work-from-Home Webinar Series, we will explore whether the consumer benefits promised by smart grid investments have been realized over the past decade. During the first session, SECC’s President & CEO Patty Durand will begin with an overview of the benefits that consumers expect from the smart grid. Then, […]

In the second part of the webinar series on the consumer benefits of smart grid investments, Dan York, a policy program fellow with ACEEE, will discuss research published earlier this year that found that most utilities have vastly underused AMI to help customers save energy. Michael Murray, the president of Mission:data, will discuss the opportunities […]

As electric utilities and policymakers look for ways to address climate change, widespread electrification is likely on the horizon. While the industry is grappling with options and opportunities, it is important to understand consumer interest in electrification and the consumer benefits from transitioning from fossil fuels in space heating, transportation, cooking and water heating. In […]

Over the last few months, the COVID-19 pandemic has quickly transformed the day-to-day lives for most Americans. Many have unfortunately found themselves out of work or with reduced hours, while everyone has been spending more time at home except for frontline workers. The energy sector, too, has felt the impacts of COVID-19 in the way […]

Up-front deposits are a source of friction between consumers and utility companies, and can be a barrier to establishing service quickly and easily. Moreover, helping consumers stay current and connected is also a major challenge for utility providers. Due to COVID-19, some areas have temporarily restricted late fees and collecting from past-due customers; many utilities […]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, smart speakers have played a key role in keeping people informed and connected despite social distancing. With more Americans using smart speakers and voice apps than ever before, utilities and other stakeholders have an opportunity to use this technology to connect with customers where they are, provide updates related to the […]

In this webinar, we will look at how industry stakeholders can help consumers engage in time-of-use (TOU) rates, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. First, Kari Binley, a manager at ecobee, will discuss ecobee’s TOU optimization feature that was developed to help consumers save more automatically with their smart thermostats. Then, Jesse Smith, a partner with […]

Right now, utilities have a unique opportunity to connect with their customers. This webinar will take an in-depth look at the latest media and consumer behavioral trends and examine how innovative engagement strategies can make the most of them. In addition, ComEd will share insights and examples of how they’re adapting their energy efficiency program […]

At this year’s Consumer Symposium, the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative announced the six winners of the 2020 Best Practices Awards. In this Peer Connect Webinar on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 1 p.m. (ET), we will hear 15-minute, case study-style presentations from winners in three of the six categories: Culture Transformation, Consumer Engagement and SMB Engagement. […]

Online marketplaces have become increasingly common in recent years as a means to connect consumers with energy-related products, services and information. Over time, these platforms have expanded their capabilities and offerings and have proven to be an effective means for engaging residential energy consumers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In this Peer Connect Webinar on Tuesday, […]

The “Modern Customer Engagement Journey” research illustrates consumers’ attitudes and values related to energy, the smart home, electricity providers and more during the COVID-19 pandemic. This unique project includes five videos and a report that were developed from more than 30 on-camera interviews recorded from June 15 to July 2 in the U.S. and Canada. […]

Join SECC for the 10th Annual Members Meeting & Fall Workshop, a three-day virtual forum on the latest trends affecting energy consumers and how stakeholders can more effectively meet and exceed the expectations of today’s consumers. The Virtual Members Meeting will also cover the most pertinent areas of need for consumer research and education and […]

In this one-hour webinar on Wednesday, November 18 at 1 p.m. (ET), we will examine the top findings from the “Understanding Lower-Income Consumers and the Smart Energy Future” report, which is based on a survey of 1,000 consumers with household incomes under $50,000. The speakers will shed light on who these consumers are and how […]

In this one-hour webinar on Wednesday, December 16 at 1 p.m. (ET), we will look at several utility programs and strategies that have been featured in SECC’s case studies throughout 2020. These initiatives were selected due to the notable benefits that they have delivered to consumers. Eva Molnar will discuss SCE’s transition to time-of-use rates […]

Utilities are expanding demand response (DR) programs to increase both the scale and value created for both consumers and the utility. Collaboration is key, with technology partners helping more effectively engage consumers and manage a wider range of connected and distributed energy resources. In this webinar on Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 1 p.m. (ET), speakers […]