Applications to Engage & Educate Consumers

eMeter Consumer Engagement applications educate consumers and motivate them to take action to conserve energy and change behavior to reduce peak load. The ability to affect consumer demand enables utilities to flatten load curves, better manage supply-side generation and minimize the use of peaking power plants. This ability to affect demand rather than just respond to it creates greater operational efficiency, reduces outages, increases customer satisfaction and lowers environmental impact.

Involving customers in load management and shifting has been piloted worldwide with consistently impressive peak demand reductions of up to 20%. Providing customer energy and efficiency information has proven so effective that the United States Department of Energy is requiring it in all Smart Grid grant (ARRA) proposals.

Energy Engage

Energy Engage™ is a state-of-the-art, Web 2.0 consumer engagement solution that allows utilities to provide individual customers access to relevant, up-to-date information regarding their electricity usage and costs. Energy Engage supports utility-consumer collaboration to save energy with custom-tailored programs that encourage conservation and reduce peak demand.

Energy conservation and increased efficiency
Energy Engage is the only product on the market enabling consumers to track both their usage and associated costs – down to hourly intervals – online, via mobile device or email, encouraging them to learn about and engage in energy conservation. Opt-in subscriptions to email and text messages for budget alerts or notifications drive conservation. Where appropriate, consumers are encouraged to consider time-based pricing programs to reduce costs.

Peak load reduction
With Energy Engage, utilities can avoid the cost of bringing peak plants online. Integrated education and promotion of variable-rate pricing plans magnify end-user engagement in demand management and maximize the impact of incentives to shift peak demand.

Improved customer satisfaction
Reduce call volumes with improved self-service. Clear presentation of cost as tied to usage, outage and restoration notifications and integrated community-generated tips enable end-users to find the information they seek online, thereby reducing the number of calls and complaints utilities receive.

Features & Benefits

• Provides instant customer access to current and historical energy consumption and expense information
• Automates distribution of service alerts and notifications based on customer preferences
• Presents energy use tips and comparative data
• Increases consumer acceptance of and participation in demand management programs
• Raises customer satisfaction and avoids consumer backlash