Welcome to the E Source blog! Our staff will share insights and observations about life at E Source, our events, our research, and other fun stuff.


Holy Smokes! How the Pope’s View on Climate Change Can Spur Action in North America

October 22, 2015 | Jeffrey Daigle
The pope believes we should take action to stall man-made climate change. China’s President Xi is capping his country’s carbon emissions and moving to renewables. Global initiative RE100 is getting organizations to commit to adopting renewable sources. Can these events change US policy?

Putting Our Money Where Our Mouth Is: E Source’s Investment in EV Workplace Charging

October 8, 2015 | Meredith Ledbetter
We love when we can implement our own advice. Three years ago, we installed an electric vehicle (EV) charging station at the E Source headquarters in Boulder, Colorado. The installation has helped promote EV adoption among employees. Read our report to learn how other businesses can adopt EVs.

Utilities Can Help Customers Self-Serve by Doing a Website Task Analysis

October 1, 2015 | Felicity Tucker
Getting customers to perform a task analysis on your website can help you identify the top reasons your customers visit your site. Armed with this information, you can design a website that meets customers’ needs and improves their experience with your brand.

TCPA Noncompliance? A Utility Nightmare

September 29, 2015 | Jeffrey Daigle
Failing to comply with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) can be a utility's worst nightmare, as the costs of noncompliance are terrifyingly high. Our recent report provides several strategies that can help protect you from a potentially bleak reality.

Insight I Wish I’d Had When I Worked on E-Billing Adoption

September 23, 2015 | Keenan Samuelson
It used to be my job at a nearby utility to increase paperless billing participation. It didn't take long for me to be humbled by the challenge. Now that I'm a researcher and have analyzed the topic more thoroughly, I can offer insightful advice. Read our recent report to learn more.

Why Utilities Will Be Tesla’s Biggest Battery Customers

September 18, 2015 | Jay Stein
Utilities use large-scale batteries for a wide variety of applications, such as regulating frequency and shifting excess supply to times of higher demand. If Tesla can actually deliver batteries at an installed price of $1,000 per kW or less, it has a good chance of competing in this market.

Battery Demand-Charge Management Looks Promising

September 16, 2015 | Jay Stein
To reduce monthly demand charges in commercial and industrial buildings, batteries charge up during times of low demand and discharge during peak times. This application is doing well in California, but as battery prices continue to drop, look for it to expand to additional markets.

Serifs, Swooshes, and CX: How Google’s Rebranding Got Us Talking About the Future

September 15, 2015 | Sarah Howie
Utility nation, you've been through radical reorgs and rebrandings. But what if you could remove the swoosh on your logo and get your customers thinking about something bigger? Like a future powered by a company whose leadership and vision they trust? Let's talk about it.

The Powerwall Will Expand the Market for Residential Backup Power

September 10, 2015 | Jay Stein
Just 2.5 percent of American homes feature backup power systems, but Tesla's new Powerwall battery has enough going for it that it stands a good chance of not only competing in this market but expanding it.

It Doesn’t Look Good for Time-of-Use Arbitrage

September 8, 2015 | Jay Stein
It’s hypothesized that utility customers who participate in time-of-use rate plans will use Tesla batteries to store off-peak power and sell it to the utility during peak periods. But the scheme won’t find a large audience because it produces meager benefits compared to the cost of the batteries.