Which customer segments participate in demand-side management (DSM) programs?
Which customers haven’t participated, but want to?
How many households have Wiis and HDTVs?
Who has a second refrigerator?
Do my customers use compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) more or less than the rest of the U.S.?

You have questions about your residential customers’ energy-use patterns. E Source, in partnership with Nielsen Claritas, has developed utility-customized reports that dive into the issues that affect your utility’s loads, your residential customers’ program participation, and the attitudes of customers toward your utility. We’ve extensively analyzed the data to create detailed reports of the most important insights on residential appliance saturation, utility program participation for efficiency and value-added services, customer attitudes, and demographics. You have two options.

Customized Utility Report. For utilities that wish to take a deep dive into the data, we’ll produce a customized utility report based on your service territory or region, including multiple cross tabulations, comparisons, and data presentations that will allow you to understand the nuances of energy use in your sector. You’ll also receive 10 hours of consulting for additional analysis.

National Residential Energy-Use Studies. For utilities that just want a national perspective, we’ve developed two summary reports:

• Residential Products and Services Survey—find out which customer segments typically participate in DSM programs, for example
• Residential Appliance and Equipment Survey—better understand, for example, how many households have video-game systems, HDTV, and two refrigerators

To purchase the E Source National Residential Energy-Use Studies or for a quote on customized analysis, please contact Ken Black, E Source executive vice president, or call 303-444-7788.

Download the study prospectus (PDF).

Customized Utility Report

Your customized report takes advantage of the rich market research data from the 2009 Nielsen Claritas Energy Audit Survey collected in your service territory or region from your residential customers. The report covers two main topics:

• Products and services. We asked residential customers about their current and planned participation in more than 20 programs, products, and services, including efficiency programs, load management, utility billing options, and value-added services (see the complete list of products and services below).
• Residential appliance saturation. We conducted an exhaustive analysis of 50 energy-using home appliances and equipment, including computers, entertainment equipment, major appliances, HVAC equipment, and other less-common equipment such as well pumps and back-up generators (see the complete list of appliances and equipment below).

We also captured important information about customer attitudes as well as satisfaction in order to enhance the ability to drill down into the reasons behind specific actions and appliance ownership. And, of course, we collected detailed demographic information such as the size and age of the home; household size and income; and respondents’ age, occupation, and even political orientation.

We’ll translate product and service profiles with demographics and Nielsen Claritas PRIZM geodemographic segments so you can drill down and understand exactly what customers need and want from their utility. For example, find out who is most likely to want flat-billing options, appliance-recycling rebates, green power, or appliance warranties. In addition, we’ll offer insights into how satisfied your customers are with the level of environmental action your utility is taking and how much this attribute matters to them.

Knowing what appliances and equipment your customers own will help you create load forecasts, develop energy-efficiency and demand-response plans, and better understand the growing energy needs of your customers. At a relatively low cost, this data can supplement or replace the existing, expensive studies your utility uses to gauge appliance saturation.

What you get with your customized report:

• A comprehensive report with specific cross tabulations, statistical analysis, and your customers’ satisfaction levels; plus you’ll learn how your service area (depending on the number of respondents, it might be your service territory and/or a surrounding area) compares to the rest of the U.S. or another region or service territory of your choosing (assuming statistical significance)
• Segmentation data that can be used with the Nielsen Claritas PRIZM geodemographic segmentation system
• Results and findings* at a private web conference with the project team where we’ll discuss the findings and their implications

*Raw data files for your service territory in Microsoft Excel or ASCII formats can be purchased for an additional license fee.

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National Residential Energy-Use Studies

Residential Products and Services Survey

Dive into customers’ desires for and current engagement in products, services, and programs including energy-efficiency rebates, home audits, load management, warranty services, rate options, green energy, bill-payment options, smart grid products, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

These data will provide an overview of high-potential products and services, steer your new product development process, and help target your marketing dollars most effectively. In addition, you’ll gain insight into how satisfied your customers are with the level of environmental action their utility is taking and how much this attribute matters to them.

Products and services
For each of the following products and services, we asked: Do you have this product or service now (or have you recently used it) through your electric or gas utility? For most, we also asked do you plan to purchase, join, or use it in the next 12 months?

Demographic characteristics

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Residential Appliance and Equipment Survey

If you don’t need customized service territory or regional analysis, E Source is offering national survey results with the same questions as the customized report and a snapshot of the entire U.S. plus the nine major census regions.

A national sample of 32,500 respondents were surveyed about 50 energy-using appliances and equipment—including new plug loads such as laptops, cell phones, and HDTVs—you might find in a typical dwelling. More than just reporting numbers, this study wraps demographics and attitudes around the data. For example, you can see which types of households tend to own multiple flat-screen TVs and extra refrigerators and which households already use CFLs.

Appliances and equipment
For each of the following appliances and equipment, we asked: Do you own this appliance or equipment now? If yes, how many do you own? For most, we also asked do you plan to purchase it in the next 12 months?

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