Are microgrids now worth the risk?

March 3, 2017 | Bryan Jungers | 2 min read
We’ve been watching the evolution of microgrids for a few years now, and they never gained traction in the marketplace. But now, APS sees microgrids as the right solution for the customer and the utility.

OK Google, how much energy does Alexa consume?

February 20, 2017 | Essie Snell | 4 min read
Voice-controlled devices like Amazon Echo and Google Home are rapidly gaining market share and may prove to be a key interface for the smart home over the next year or two. But for energy nerds like me, there’s a persistent and nagging question: How much energy do these devices actually consume?

Creating a CX culture is a marathon, not a sprint

January 19, 2017 | Shawn Silzer | 3 min read
Customer experience (CX) leaders are generally highly driven, but sometimes we need to step outside of our comfort zone and demonstrate patience if we're to succeed in implementing a CX culture at our organizations. AGL Resources offers a success story that we can all learn from.

Your prescription for content strategy

January 16, 2017 | Jeffrey Daigle | 4 min read

Creating content for content’s sake is not enough to drive customer behavior. E Source has a prescription to help cure some of your utility's communications-related maladies: content strategy. With a simple exercise, we can get you started with a core content strategy statement.

What the top technologies and trends of 2016 tell us to expect for 2017

January 13, 2017 | Jay Stein | 3 min read
At the start of every year the E Source tech team selects its 20 favorite technologies and trends for the previous year. It’s fun to look back at what happened over the course of 2016, but it’s also valuable to think about what those trends portend for 2017.

Don’t assume Trump will stop the HFC phasedown

January 3, 2017 | Jay Stein | 6 min read
Because President-elect Trump regularly expresses disdain for climate-change regulations, some assume that the new administration will obstruct the international and domestic statutes to phase down HFC usage. The situation is actually more complex, and US support for an HFC phasedown may survive.

Why Energy Utilities Should Care About Water

December 29, 2016 | Logan Jacobson | 5 min read
Because of the link between energy and water use, encouraging water efficiency could lead to profound energy savings, but very few energy utilities actively promote water conservation. Luckily, energy utilities can target inefficiencies in specific stages of water use to reduce energy waste.

Electric vehicle EVangelists, spread the word!

October 6, 2016 | Ryan Odell | 3 min read
Electric vehicles (EVs) are going to change our lives and the world, and they have the potential to redefine electric utilities. Take charge and become an EVangelist!

Claiming the $100 Billion Prize with Electric Vehicles

June 2, 2016 | Michael Shepard | 3 min read
Utilities are improving their marketing of electric cars, but they may be relying too much on the auto industry to boost awareness. A four-part series explains how utilities can take advantage of the benefits EVs provide, why they need to act soon, and how to motivate the car dealers.