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 […]
Join EUCI for a conference that will bring together utility and industry experts who must daily interact with the billing process and payment systems. They will draw upon their experience to address issues surrounding advances in billing technology and payment processing. Learn more here > > >
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 […]
Join Bidgely on September 14 to 18 for five short, high-impactful days of sessions covering key topics such as resiliency, hyper-personalization, beneficial electrification, and more. The agenda includes Patty Durand, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Join the national network of public power professionals who focus on customer services and community connections. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to compare notes, discover best practices, and learn from case studies. You will also meet other utility professionals — both veterans and those new to the electric utility industry — and share ideas and […]
The 42nd PLMA Conference, originally scheduled to be presented in Baltimore, Maryland, will instead be a virtual event with a mix of live and pre-recorded content. The conference agenda includes half-day live sessions on Tuesday, November 10, Wednesday, November 11, and Thursday, November 12, as well as on-demand sessions on a variety of important 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 […]
Fuel up on current best practices in program implementation, evaluation, technology and marketing at AESP's 31st Annual Conference. This virtual conference will feature conversations about key current topics, including energy equity, diversity, electrification and decarbonization. Join SECC's Deputy Director Nathan Shannon as he leads a panel discussion on lower-income consumers.
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 […]
This webinar was originally scheduled for Thursday, February 18 at 1 p.m. (ET); however, due to the emergency situation in Texas, it will now broadcast on Thursday, February 25 at 1 p.m. (ET). We apologize for any inconvenience. While smart energy technologies are transforming the energy sector in many ways, lower-income communities, particularly People of […]
In this webinar on Tuesday, March 9 at 1 p.m. (ET), we will look at how stakeholders can assist consumers as they continue to deal with challenges related to COVID-19. First, Aimee Gendusa-English, Lead Service Liaison at Illinois CUB, will talk about recent legislation to help consumers with their energy bills during this time. Then, […]
In this Research Brief Webinar on Tuesday, March 30 at 1 p.m. (ET), featured speakers will discuss the six major themes on energy consumers’ needs and wants from the “2021 State of the Consumer” report, a meta-analysis of SECC’s 2020 research findings and case studies. Please bring questions on the needs and wants of today’s […]
SECC's virtual 2021 Consumer Symposium: Modernizing Consumer Engagement for a New Era is a one-of-a-kind event that focuses on energy customers and their relationships with the smart grid, grid edge tech and related programs & services. Through engaging sessions with industry thought leaders, Symposium attendees will gain actionable insights for developing innovative solutions to engage […]
Gain real-world insight from practitioners active in load management, including distributed energy resources and demand response. About 300 load management practitioners are expected to attend the 43rd PLMA Conference online, including private and publicly owned utilities, technology companies, energy and energy solution providers, equipment manufacturers, research and academic organizations, government and regulatory staff, and consultants.
The 6th Annual Grid Modernization Forum, May 11-12, 2021 in Chicago, will examine lessons learned to date by industry leaders pushing the fronters of grid modernization and reliability. Key technology innovators and executives will share perspectives on how best to leverage smart grid investment, effectively engage customers, and meet the challenges of the changing energy […]
At this year’s virtual Consumer Symposium on April 21, the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative will announce the six winners of the 2021 Best Practices Awards, which recognize customer-centric innovation and excellence from electricity providers. In this Peer Connect Webinar on Thursday, May 13 at 1 p.m. (ET), we will hear 15-minute, case study-style presentations from […]
Every customer has different wants, interests and needs. And consumers expect to receive relevant communication. That’s why your energy utility needs to personalize your communications through audience segmentation. By identifying your customers’ motivations or interests, you can better target them with specific messaging and content to reach conversion and program participation goals. Join Questline and […]
In this Energy Central webinar, speakers from Consumers Energy, PSEG-LI and Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) will share their time-of-use (TOU) best practices, along with advice on how to successfully champion these transitions internally. In addition, the panelists will discuss the value of GridX’s revenue-grade Enterprise Rate Engine to create the analytics and insight necessary […]
Are adopters of smart home technologies satisfied with the devices in their home? Are they fully taking advantage of energy-saving capabilities? Why have non-adopters not pursued these devices? And what benefits and messaging would motivate them to adopt? These are a few questions that we’ll look to address in this upcoming webinar on the “Smart […]
With summertime in full swing, we will take a deep dive into recent energy efficiency programs from California’s investor-owned utilities that incentivized smart thermostat adoption among residential customers. Based on an evaluation from DNV, the presentation will look at the customer experience for program participants, how consumers used their thermostats and ultimately what savings were […]
In the second webinar in the series on summertime energy savings, we will take a look at residential programs from Entergy New Orleans and Ameren Illinois. First, we will hear how Ameren incentivized smart thermostat adoption among their customers, including delivering free smart thermostats to thousands of low-income consumers. Then, we will learn about several […]
In the final webinar in the Summertime Energy Savings series, we will hear from three utilities on alternative rate programs for residential customers. First, Consumers Energy will describe its recently launched default Time of Use program and the outreach strategies that enabled a transition focused on excellent customer experiences. Then, Con Edison and Orange & […]
Rocky Mountain Utility Exchange facilitates a networking and professional development conference for staff representatives of energy and water utilities serving Colorado and neighboring states who are responsible for the design and delivery of customer-centric utility programs, including resource efficiency, load management, distributed energy and customer service operations. This event attracts about 150 utility and government […]
In this webinar on Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. (ET), we will explore how electricity providers can improve the customer experience around electric vehicles (EVs). First, Karl Popham at Austin Energy will discuss the utility's online EV Buyer's Guide, a first-of-its-kind, interactive consumer engagement solution to help people make the switch from gas to […]
At Itron Inspire, we’ll explore the possibilities for a better connected, sustainable and resourceful future. By gathering leaders from across energy, water, IIoT and smart communities, we’ll explore technology and services to drive business transformation, reimagine customer engagement and ignite innovation. Join SECC's President & CEO Nathan Shannon as he presents the new "Smart Home […]
Bidgely Engage Virtual, taking place October 5-8, is dedicated to the role of customer-centric AI in accelerating the energy industry. This year’s conference focuses on an analytics approach to driving our clean energy future, highlighting the compounding benefits of data-driven decisions in meeting both today’s business objectives, alongside the ambitious and critical net zero targets sitting […]
The Winter 2021 Freeze event touched Texans like no disaster in history, setting abundant records for its 254-county extent, severity of cold, freeze duration, and ice-snowfall accumulations. Texas simply was not prepared for this winter storm. Along with the rolling blackouts in CAISO and Polar Vortex(s) in the Northeast, are these disasters happening because we […]
In this webinar on Wednesday, Oct. 27 at 1 p.m. (ET), we will review the key findings from SECC's "Understanding the Needs and Wants of Renters" report, which looks at who residential renters are today and how electricity providers and other stakeholders can better serve them. The featured speakers will examine the financial status of […]
The Behavior, Energy & Climate Change Conference (BECC) is the premier conference focused on understanding human behavior and decision making and using that knowledge to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future. Join SECC's President & CEO Nathan Shannon virtually as he presents SECC's most recent research on lower-income consumers.
The 44th PLMA Conference, scheduled for November 8-10, 2021, will once again offer real-world insights from a diversity of energy practitioners whose work focuses on load management, demand response and distributed energy resources. Join SECC's President & CEO Nathan Shannon as he discusses The Smart Home and Energy Data Management with Jen Szaro, President & […]
Join us at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center in Atlanta for SECC's 2021 Members Meeting & Fall Workshop, our first in-person event in nearly two years! The day-and-a-half conference will include two keynote addresses, several interactive panel discussions and planning sessions for SECC's 2022 research and education initiatives. Stay tuned for more information […]
This year's Canadian Electricity Association Fall Symposium, scheduled for November 24 focuses on the theme of Powering Partnerships. SECC's Deputy Director Jason McGrade will join a panel of experts to discuss the changing needs of the consumer.
In this webinar on Wednesday, Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. (ET), we will explore key insights and best practices from SECC's upcoming "Understanding Renters: Serving the Needs of Small Business" report. During the one-hour presentation, the speakers will offer insights related to small businesses' energy consumption patterns, their top priorities and their concerns related to […]
Americans are increasingly adding new smart home technologies – including smart thermostats, appliances and lighting – to their homes, but what do consumers want from these devices, particularly when it comes to energy? Using the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative’s propriety consumer research as a starting point for discussion, we will look at the benefits and […]
Join the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance for the 20th anniversary of the region’s premier energy efficiency event. The 2022 Midwest Energy Solutions Conference will reunite the industry’s top innovators and decision-makers in in the heart of Chicago for three days of inspiring talks, unparalleled networking and insightful panels.
Join SECC's President & CEO Nathan Shannon as he discusses The Smart Home and Energy Data Management at AESP's 32nd Annual Conference & Expo, one of the premier energy industry conferences. This year's event will take place on February 7-10, 2022 at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee.
With dozens of new electric vehicles (EVs) slated to be available in the next few years and rising interest among American consumers, we conducted the “Electric Vehicles: Driving the Customer Experience” research to provide industry stakeholders with insights on consumer knowledge and attitudes about EVs as well as the habits and experiences of current EV […]
SECC joins a diverse group from government, industry, academia, and non-profit organizations at the 2022 Texas Energy Summit on March 2-4. This conference focuses on the intersection of air quality and energy with sessions on energy management, renewable energy, storage, zero emission fleets, sustainability, and resiliency.
The 45th PLMA Conference, scheduled for April 6-8, 2022 in Baltimore, will once again offer real-world insights from a diversity of energy practitioners whose work focuses on load management, demand response and distributed energy resources.
During this Research Brief Webinar on Thursday, April 7 at 1 p.m. (ET), we will reveal the six big-picture themes on today’s energy consumers from the “2022 State of the Consumer” report, which was developed through an in-depth analysis of SECC’s 2021 research projects. The featured speakers will share how electricity providers and other industry […]
The 7th Annual Grid Modernization Forum, May 10-11, 2022 in Chicago, examines lessons learned to date by industry leaders pushing the fronters of grid modernization and reliability. Key technology innovators and executives will share perspectives on how best to leverage smart grid investment, effectively engage customers, and meet the challenges of the changing energy ecosystem.
Connect with peers, partners, and industry experts at Exchange 2022, Landis+Gyr's premiere annual event that brings together the energy management community. Join us in Orlando, FL on May 16-19 as together we explored how the energy management community is leading positive change for the future. You’ll hear from industry thought leaders on how current events, […]
Following the challenging times of the COVID-19 Pandemic, utilities now face changing expectations from consumers. SECC’s latest research will showcase the current state of the consumer and how utilities can build engagement, improve outreach and increase customer satisfaction among the hard to reach renter demographic during EUCI's Billing and Payments Conference on February 28 – […]
In this Peer Connect Webinar on Tuesday, May 17 at 1 p.m. (ET), we will explore how electricity providers and other industry stakeholders can help consumers transition from fossil fuels to electricity for space heating, water heating, cooking and more. We will discuss the benefits that consumers can receive from electrifying their homes and review […]
Join SECC's President & CEO Nathan Shannon at DISTRIBUTECH International 2022 for a panel exploring the relationships between residential customers, smart home technologies and energy usage data. This panel will discuss consumer interest in various smart home devices (including smart speakers, smart thermostats and smart appliances), potential barriers to adoption and whether these devices have […]
Join SECC at DISTRIBUTECH International in Dallas for the 2022 Consumer Symposium, a one-of-a-kind event that focuses on energy customers and their relationships with the smart grid, grid edge tech and related programs & services. Through engaging sessions with industry thought leaders, Symposium attendees will gain actionable insights for developing innovative solutions to engage consumers […]
Organized by the Smart Grid Observer, the 2nd Annual EV Charging Infrastructure Summit - North America, June 7-8, 2022 in Chicago, convenes top industry experts and utility professionals to examine how growing EV adoption rates will impact the network, and what investments are needed to ensure grid stability and benefit. Case studies of current utility […]
Contact centers have long been the primary means of customer service in utilities. But evolving customer needs and expectations are forcing these centers to be more nimble, responsive, and tech-savvy. Utilities that leverage their contact centers to address both customer and agent needs effectively can create trusted relationships with customers. At EUCI's Virtual Optimizing Utility […]
During this Peer Connect Webinar on Tuesday, June 28 at 1 p.m. (ET), we will delve into the winning programs from the 2022 Best Practices Awards in two categories – SMB Engagement and Consumer Engagement. Join guest speakers from London Hydro and Bidgely as we learn more about an automatic, personalized Price Plan Calculator and […]
Join AESP Southeast on July 14-15 at the Raleigh Sheraton for their annual conference. This year’s conference theme was chosen as an homage to both the Southeast region’s current issues, such as energy justice, resiliency and changing consumer behaviors and needs, as well as a favorite afterschool TV show from the early 90s. SECC's Deputy […]
During this Research Brief Webinar on Tuesday, August 9 at 1 p.m. (ET), we will reveal the five new consumer segments developed in the “Consumer Pulse and Market Segmentation – Wave 8” study. The featured speakers will provide a thorough analysis of the characteristics of each segment and will detail steps that stakeholders can take […]
During this Peer Connect Webinar on Wednesday, August 24 at 1 p.m. (ET), we will delve into successful load management programs and provide details specifically on the benefits that have been delivered to consumers. To begin, Saint John Energy will present on their current and future strategy for demand reduction and provide details on their […]
