E Source Blog
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.
Myriad companies now collect detailed user data to facilitate targeted marketing, in-depth market research, and sophisticated “big data” approaches to business management. Much of this data is currently collected from computers and mobile devices, but the budding smart home market represents a nascent frontier for data acquisition that may lead manufacturers and distributors to push for increased sales of smart home devices. For utilities, this is a good thing: The intersection of big data and smart home technology may offer a range of opportunities to build new mid- or upstream incentive programs, collect more-in-depth data on how users actually consume energy, and open up new customer communication channels.
As I made my way to a local farmers market recently, I was thinking about a surprising statistic I had seen: Food travels an average of 1,500 miles to get to our tables. There’s a lot of transportation fuel, refrigeration energy, and spoilage implied in that stat. Farmers markets can help bring down that average, but in most parts of the country, nature puts strict limits on the portion of the year that they can operate. That’s where LEDs come in, enabling year-round growth in many areas.
Using customer feedback to inform customer-centric business decisions sounds simple, but it isn’t. Each part of the voice-of-the-customer (VOC) cycle has its challenges. In this blog, we present solutions to three common obstacles in VOC management. If you want to learn from industry experts on this topic, join us at the 2016 E Source Forum!
For the first time in years, heating and cooling doesn’t dominate home energy consumption. I like to think heat pumps are playing a large part in this trend, but new products are still coming down the pike. Join us for the “Pump Up the Heat” session at the 2016 E Source Forum to learn about the latest and greatest in heat pump technology. Got a tough space conditioning situation? Chances are, there’s a heat pump for that!
At this year’s E Source Forum in Denver, a panel of four utility social media managers from across the US will share their perspectives on social media strategy and the experiences that shaped how they connect with customers and the public via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other channels. Come hear what they’ve learned and how they’re planning for the future in a changing industry, and ask them your burning questions.
Curious about technology trends that are top of mind for utilities? Luckily, you have two upcoming opportunities to tune in and learn about the latest, greatest, top-notch technologies. The first is our biannual Tech Roundup on August 3, where we’ll cover everything from a product that can dry your clothes with vibrations to a new way to use tape for backup data storage. The second opportunity is a technology roundtable session at the E Source Forum in September. You really don’t want to miss either!
The future can be a scary place for utilities that haven’t started thinking about evolving their core business model to keep up with technological and regulatory changes. But it’s not too late to start planning for the future. Check out a new E Source report that explores New York’s Reforming the Energy Vision plan, and join us at the 2016 E Source Forum to learn about new utility business models and why they’re vital for utilities that want to be relevant in the years to come.
Whether we’re talking creative rate design and promotion, business model exploration, rewards programs, or just zany advertising, there’s an appetite for risk among many retail players that has helped push the envelope in the energy conversation. And regulated utilities can reap the benefits of lessons learned by some of these intrepid brands. Learn more at the 2016 E Source Forum!
Whether it’s improving safety, increasing customer satisfaction, or encouraging innovation, many of the changes utilities currently face require cultural change—maybe even transformation. But how do you actually transform utility culture? Has anyone successfully encouraged innovation, creativity, and risk-taking while refusing to compromise on safety and reliability? What is culture anyway? At the upcoming E Source Forum, we intend to answer those questions and more during a session entitled, “Transforming Utility Culture.”
There’s a job to be done, and you know just who can do it. But do your customers? Utilities everywhere are working to develop, promote, and improve the connections between trusted trade allies and customers to bring energy-efficiency and renewable energy projects to fruition. For many utilities, one of the most effective ways to bridge the gap between trade allies and customers is through digital channels, including display ads, social media, and search engine marketing (SEM).