SmartEnergy IP Nationwide Report Concludes that Consumers Want Utilities to Be More Innovative and Expand into Home
PHILADELPHIA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–$energy #consumers—SmartEnergy
IP™, a division of SmartMark
Communications, announced today the publishing of its newest
research report, Developing a Roadmap for the Utility of the Future.
From the 1,500 customers surveyed across the U.S., it was telling that
while nearly half of Americans do not think their utility companies are
innovative, they want them to be.
Currently, almost 40 percent of consumers currently do not think their
utilities are “innovative,” but there is a growing appetite for them to
expand their technologies to help automate savings and offer more
in-home smart energy products and services, the report’s survey findings
show.
In fact, when respondents were asked questions about what they expected
from their utility in the future, 32 percent said they expected their
utilities to implement technology that would automate energy savings and
20 percent expected their utilities to build smarter communities. The
polling also revealed that at least a fifth of respondents would like
their utility to start offering internet services and provide a variety
of bundled smart services to their home.
“The numbers indicate that while customer expectations and perceptions
around utility innovation are currently low, there is a tremendous
opportunity for utilities to introduce new services,” SmartEnergy IP
founder and CEO Juliet Shavit said. “Customers want a more innovative
utility and they will soon expect more from them – creating a new
opportunity for utilities to offer smart products and services in the
home. It is impossible not to see recurring themes of technology and
partnerships as part of the utility of the future.”
An interactive smart
home exhibit displaying many of these themes was onsite last month
at SmartEnergy IP’s annual Smart
Grid Customer Education Symposium, in Philadelphia. The exhibit
modeled a future energy lifestyle for consumers that encouraged and
utilized sustainable living solutions and showcased the evolving
utility-customer relationship. Users interacted with various
technologies incorporated into the exhibit’s kitchen, bedroom, living
room, and dining area. Other features included app-friendly appliances,
interactive touchscreens and a virtual reality station.
The survey’s findings and conclusions are detailed in the full report,
which is available for purchase. Please contact info@smartenergy-ip.com
for more information.
About SmartEnergy IP™
SmartEnergy IP is a research and consulting organization within
SmartMark Communications, LLC that is dedicated to helping utilities
communicate the benefits of Smart Grid to customers. As utilities roll
out Smart Grid initiatives — from smart meters to dynamic pricing
programs — there are ways to ensure that customers are best prepared to
make smart energy choices and positively support these roll outs.
SmartMark Communications has over a decade of experience in the energy
and utilities customer care domain, helping utilities and suppliers
market effectively to customers. For more information, visit: www.smartenergy-ip.com.
Contacts
SmartMark Communications, LLC and SmartEnergy IP
Kristin Marcell,
+1-215-504-4272
kristin@smartmarkusa.com
