Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative

SMART ENERGY CONSUMER COLLABORATIVE CONTINUED TO ADVANCE THE GROUNDWORK FOR PARTNERSHIP AND SET THE STAGE FOR A CONSUMER-SAFE, CONSUMER-FRIENDLY AND CONSUMER-APPROVED MODERN ELECTRIC GRID IN THE U.S. BY FOLLOWING A THREEFOLD AGENDA OF LISTENING TO CONSUMERS VIA PRIMARY CONSUMER RESEARCH, EDUCATING CONSUMERS AND STAKEHOLDERS VIA IN-HOUSE INFORMATION MEDIUMS AND COLLABORATING WITH STAKEHOLDERS VIA IN-PERSON EVENTS AND OUTREACH. ULTIMATELY, SECC'S VISION IS THAT CONSUMERS HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE BENEFITS OF SMART ENERGY.

RESEARCH:IN 2021, SECC RELEASED FIVE PIECES OF RESEARCH AND TWO COMPANION WHITE PAPERS SEEKING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND SMART ENERGY CONSUMERS THEIR PERCEPTIONS, ATTITUDES AND NEEDS AND THEN LEVERAGE THIS UNDERSTANDING TO FORMULATE ACTIONS THAT UTILITIES AND OTHER ENERGY SERVICE PROVIDERS CAN TAKE TO BETTER SERVE AND ENGAGE WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS. IN ADDITION, SECC PRODUCED FIVE CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT CASE STUDIES THAT PROFILED HOW ENERGY UTILITIES IN THE U.S. ARE MAKING SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN EDUCATING AND ENGAGING THEIR CUSTOMERS ABOUT HOW TO BETTER CONTROL THEIR ENERGY USE, THE RESULTING UTILITY COSTS AND THE BENEFITS OF SHIFTING THEIR CONSUMPTION. ALL OF THESE RESOURCES WERE PUT TOGETHER BY A VOLUNTEER-BASED RESEARCH COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF MEMBERS WHO HELPED SHAPE SECC'S RESEARCH AGENDA, REVIEWED DETAILED FINDINGS AND DISCUSSED THE IMPLICATIONS AND PRESENTATION OF THOSE FINDINGS.SECC RELEASED THE MOST CURRENT VERSION OF ITS ANNUAL 2021 STATE OF THE CONSUMER REPORT, A META-ANALYSIS OF SECC'S 2020 RESEARCH AGENDA THAT PROVIDES SIX KEY THEMES ON WHAT RESIDENTIAL ENERGY CONSUMERS NEED AND WANT TODAY. MORE THAN EVER, SECC'S "2021 STATE OF THE CONSUMER" REPORT REVEALED A STRONG INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN ON THE INTERESTS, BEHAVIORS AND MOTIVATIONS OF ENERGY CONSUMERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. THE REPORT ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THAT MANY CONSUMERS CONTINUE TO LOOK TO THEIR UTILITIES FOR SUPPORT AS THEY DEAL WITH THE IMPACT OF COVID-19. THE "2021 STATE OF THE CONSUMER" REPORT IS DESIGNED TO HELP INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING UTILITIES, CONSUMER ADVOCATES, SOLUTION PROVIDERS AND REGULATORS BETTER UNDERSTAND TODAY'S CONSUMERS AND DEVELOP PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGIES THAT MEET THEIR NEEDS MORE EFFECTIVELY.SECC RELEASED ITS SMART HOME AND ENERGY DATA: WHAT DO CONSUMERS WANT? REPORT AN EXPLORATION OF THE EXPERIENCES OF CURRENT SMART HOME DEVICE OWNERS AND THE CONCERNS AND BARRIERS OF THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET ADOPTED SMART HOME DEVICES. THE REPORT FOUND THAT CURRENT OWNERS OF SMART HOME DEVICES, SUCH AS SMART THERMOSTATS, APPLIANCES AND SPEAKERS, ARE OVERWHELMINGLY SATISFIED WITH THESE TECHNOLOGIES; HOWEVER, UPFRONT COSTS AND DATA PRIVACY CONCERNS REMAIN KEY BARRIERS FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT YET OWN ANY SMART HOME DEVICES. REGARDLESS OF CURRENT DEVICE OWNERSHIP, DATA SECURITY AND PRIVACY ARE IMPORTANT CONCERNS FOR ALL CONSUMERS, ACCORDING TO THE SURVEY DATA. ABOUT TWO-THIRDS (63 PERCENT) OF CONSUMERS SAY THEY ARE CONCERNED WITH DATA LEAKS AT EITHER A THIRD PARTY OR THEIR CURRENT ELECTRICITY PROVIDER.SECC RELEASED ITS UNDERSTANDING RENTERS: SERVING THE NEEDS OF SMALL BUSINESS REPORT WHICH FOCUSES ON THE ENERGY-RELATED CONCERNS AND INTERESTS OF SMALL BUSINESSES WITH FEWER THAN 100 EMPLOYEES THAT LEASE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY. THE REPORT IS BASED ON TWENTY 30-MINUTE INTERVIEWS WITH BUSINESS OWNERS THAT OCCUPY RENTAL PROPERTIES IN TEXAS, FLORIDA, ILLINOIS, CALIFORNIA, ARKANSAS, NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTH CAROLINA, AS WELL AS A REVIEW OF RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS. THE REPORT PROVIDES INSIGHTS ON SMALL BUSINESSES' TOP FINANCIAL PRIORITIES (INCLUDING WHERE ENERGY EFFICIENCY FITS IN), THE TYPES OF COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE THAT THESE BUSINESSES TEND TO LEASE, THE BARRIERS THAT SMALL BUSINESSES FACE IN PARTICIPATING IN ENERGY-SAVING PROGRAMS AND MORE.SECC RELEASED ITS UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS AND WANTS OF RENTERS REPORT WHICH AIMS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND RESIDENTIAL RENTERS AS CONSUMERS AND EXPLORE THEIR ATTITUDES, VALUES AND PREFERENCES REGARDING ENERGY MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AND UTILITY PROGRAMS. THE REPORT IS BASED ON AN ONLINE SURVEY OF 1,000 RENTERS IN THE UNITED STATES, SUPPLEMENTED WITH INTERVIEWS WITH A SAMPLE OF RESIDENTIAL LANDLORDS AND PROPERTY MANAGERS AND A LITERATURE REVIEW OF RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA STORIES. THE "UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS AND WANTS OF RENTERS" REPORT SEEKS TO ENABLE SECC'S MEMBERSHIP TO DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF RENTERS AND THEIR SPECIFIC ENERGY NEEDS TO BETTER TARGET COMMUNICATIONS AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT.SECC RELEASED ITS ELECTRIC VEHICLES: DRIVING THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE REPORT WHICH PROVIDES INSIGHT INTO CONSUMERS' KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHICLES (EVS) AS WELL AS THE EXPERIENCES OF CURRENT EV DRIVERS. THE REPORT IS BASED ON AN ONLINE SURVEY THAT WAS ADMINISTERED TO 1,000 RESIDENTIAL CONSUMERS IN THE UNITED STATES IN NOVEMBER 2021. THE SAMPLE WAS BOOSTED WITH AN ADDITIONAL 750 RESPONDENTS WHO CURRENTLY OWN AN EV. THE RESEARCH EXPLORES OWNERS' SATISFACTION WITH THEIR EVS, CONSUMERS' TOP CONCERNS AROUND EVS, FREQUENCY AND TIMES OF CHARGING AMONG OWNERS, THE TOP SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON EVS, INTEREST IN SMART HOME DEVICES AND MORE.FINALLY, SECC RELEASED FIVE NEW CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT SUCCESS STORIES COVERING AEP OHIO, CONSUMERS ENERGY, TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY, AMEREN ILLINOIS AND NATIONAL GRID. EACH CASE STUDY SPOTLIGHTS HOW SMART METERS OR SMART GRID DEPLOYMENTS BY THESE UTILITIES HAVE ENGAGED CONSUMERS TO ENABLE THEM TO MATCH THE ENERGY THEY USE WITH THEIR NEEDS AND LIFESTYLES. THEY HIGHLIGHTED TIME-OF-USE RATES, LED LIGHTING, ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, PEAK DEMAND AND HOME ENERGY ASSESSMENTS.

EDUCATION:IN 2021, SECC CONTINUED TO PRODUCE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND INCREASE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. THROUGH A VOLUNTEER-BASED EDUCATION AND OUTREACH COMMITTEE, MEMBERS WORKED TOGETHER TO IMPROVE CONSUMER AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF MODERNIZED ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS BY RECOGNIZING SMART ENERGY SUCCESS, EXPANDING AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO STAKEHOLDERS AND AMPLIFYING THE SMART ENERGY BENEFITS MESSAGE TO CONSUMERS NATIONWIDE.SECC CONTINUED A BEST PRACTICES AWARDS PROGRAM THAT IDENTIFIED LEADERSHIP FROM ENERGY PROVIDERS SHIFTING TOWARD A MORE CONSUMER-FOCUSED ENERGY ECOSYSTEM. THE THIRD ANNUAL EDITION OF THE AWARDS IDENTIFIED SIX WINNERS CON EDISON, CLP POWER, AUSTIN ENERGY, TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY, MISSISSIPPI POWER AND CONSUMERS ENERGY. THEY WERE EACH RECOGNIZED AT THE 2021 CONSUMER SYMPOSIUM IN DALLAS, TX. THE AWARDS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON REAL-LIFE EXAMPLES OF CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION SUCCESS AND HIGHLIGHTS A BLUEPRINT FOR OTHER ELECTRICITY PROVIDERS (AND THEIR INDUSTRY PARTNERS) TO FOLLOW.SECC ALSO HOSTED A SERIES OF TWELVE FREE PEER CONNECT WEBINARS CONCERNING TOPICS RANGING FROM 2021 BEST PRACTICES AWARDS, DEMAND RESPONSE: WHAT HAVE WE CAN LEARNED AND WHAT'S TO COME, UPDATES ON COVID-19 RELIEF FOR ENERGY CONSUMERS AND UNLOCKING ENERGY ENGAGEMENT WITH RENTERS. EACH WEBINAR COVERED SMART ENERGY AND CONSUMER RELATED TOPICS FEATURING SPEAKERS FROM STAKEHOLDERS WITH EXPERTISE IN THAT SPECIFIC SUBJECT. ADDITIONALLY, SPEAKERS ANSWERED QUESTIONS AND ENGAGED IN DISCUSSION ABOUT EACH TOPIC.UTILIZING THE SIX THEMES FROM THE 2021 STATE OF THE CONSUMER REPORT, SECC PUBLISHED AN IN-DEPTH SECC'S ADVANCING THE MODERN ENERGY CONSUMER WHITE PAPER WHITE PAPER THAT HIGHLIGHTS SUCCESSFUL UTILITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR RESIDENTIAL AND SMALL BUSINESS CUSTOMERS. THE WHITE PAPER TO DISCOVER WHAT'S WORKING IN THE CUSTOMER-CENTRIC ENERGY TRANSITION FROM A RANGE OF ELECTRICITY PROVIDERS, INCLUDING TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY, AMEREN ILLINOIS, AUSTIN ENERGY, NATIONAL GRID, SMUD, NORTH CAROLINA'S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES AND MORE. HIGHLIGHTED EXAMPLES INCLUDE A SMART THERMOSTAT CAMPAIGN FOR LOWER-INCOME CONSUMERS, A ROOFTOP SOLAR EDUCATION PROGRAM, A DEMAND RESPONSE PROGRAM PAIRED WITH SMART HOME TECHNOLOGY, A VIRTUAL ENERGY COACHING INITIATIVE AND A SMART NEIGHBORHOOD PILOT PROGRAM.IN 2021, THE EDUCATION & OUTREACH COMMITTEE CONTINUED WITH ITS TOOLKIT APPROACH, PRODUCING MULTIPLE RESOURCES UNDER A COMMON THEME TO MAXIMIZE THE REACH AND USEFULNESS OF THE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR MEMBERS. THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE COMPLETED THREE SMART GRID 2.0 FACT SHEETS ON IMPORTANT INDUSTRY TOPICS IN 2021.SECC CREATED A CONSUMER INFORMATION KIT FOR THE SMART GRID TOOLKIT, THAT INCLUDES THE THREE SMART GRID 2.0 FACT SHEETS ON ELECTRICITY PRICING, ENERGY DATA AND CONSUMER BENEFITS. ALL PREVIOUS FACT SHEETS HAVE ALSO BEEN UPDATED WITH SECC'S CURRENT BRANDING. TO FACILITATE CONSUMER UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT OF SMART GRID, SECC CREATED A PACKAGE OF CONSUMER-FACING FACT SHEETS AND VIDEOS TO ADDRESS CONSUMER CONCERNS WITH HOT TOPICS IN SMART GRID. THE CONSUMER INFORMATION KIT FOR THE SMART GRID ADDRESSES IMPORTANT CONSUMER TOPICS INCLUDING CONSUMER BENEFITS, ENERGY DATA, DEBUNKING MYTHS, OUTAGE RESTORATION, POWER QUALITY, PRICING PLANS, HEALTH CONCERNS, SMART CITIES AND DISTRIBUTED GENERATION. IN EACH FACT SHEET, YOU'LL FIND EASY-TO-UNDERSTAND EXPLANATIONS OF SMART ENERGY TOPICS CONVEYED THROUGH INFORMATIVE GRAPHICS AND CREDIBLE RESOURCES.SECC CONTINUED ENHANCING MATERIALS ON ITS CONSUMER-FACING WEBSITE, WWW.WHATISSMARTENERGY.ORG BY FINALIZING REDESIGN. THE HOMEPAGE FEATURES AN INTERACTIVE SMART HOME INFOGRAPHIC, AND THE WEBSITE WAS REORGANIZED TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR CONSUMERS TO FIND RELEVANT CONTENT ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES, RENEWABLE ENERGY, THE SMART GRID AND MORE. SECC ALSO ADDED 14 FEATURED ARTICLES ON TIMELY TOPICS RELEVANT TO CONSUMERS. THESE ARTICLES EDUCATED THE CONSUMER ON ENERGY EFFICIENT OPPORTUNITIES WHILE AVOIDING INDUSTRY JARGON AND KEEPING IN MIND THE WANTS AND NEEDS OF THE CONSUMER. SECC ALSO ENGAGED WITH CONSUMERS ON A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS DAILY; LARGELY THROUGH TWITTER AND FACEBOOK WITH MULTIPLE POSTINGS A DAY INCLUDING BOTH ORIGINAL CONTENT FROM THE BLOGS OR PERTINENT NEWS ARTICLES ABOUT THE SHIFTING WORLD OF ENERGY.

COLLABORATION: DURING 2021, SECC CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN ITS UNIQUE MEMBERSHIP BASE, INCLUDING TECHNOLOGY VENDORS AND CONSULTANTS, ENERGY PROVIDERS AND AFFILIATES, AND ADDED TEN NEW MEMBERS INDICATING THE VALUE IN THE RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS PRODUCED AS WELL AS THE COLLABORATION FACILITATED. SECC PRESENTED AT 25 CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS, IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL, ACROSS THE COUNTRY. TO FURTHER THE REACH OF SECC'S RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, SECC RELEASED 40 MEDIA CENTERED PRESS RELEASES. IN ADDITION, SECC WAS FEATURED IN OVER 23 ARTICLES IN TRADE MEDIA.SECC CONTINUED TO COLLABORATE AMONG STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING ISSUING A MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER AND ELEVEN ADDITIONAL PRESIDENT'S POST BLOG POSTS FROM SECC'S PRESIDENT & CEO NATHAN SHANNON ON TOPICS LIKE RACIAL EQUITY IN THE SMART ENERGY FUTURE AND WHO ARE SMART HOME DEVICE OWNERS?. SECC CONTINUED A CONSISTENT SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN AND YOUTUBE. THROUGHOUT 2021, SECC ALSO CONTINUED THE WEEKLY ABOVE THE FOLD, A NEWSLETTER THAT KEPT MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS ABREAST OF SMART ENERGY AND CONSUMER INDUSTRY NEWS AND TRENDS.SECC ALSO HOSTED TWO CONFERENCES IN 2021 INCLUDING THE ANNUAL CONSUMER SYMPOSIUM, MODERNIZING CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT FOR A NEW ERA, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND A VIRTUAL, MEMBERS MEETING & FALL WORKSHOP WHERE MEMBERS FOCUSED ON DISCUSSING THE MOST PERTINENT ISSUES IN SMART ENERGY TODAY AND PLANNING FUTURE SECC INITIATIVES FOR 2021. BOTH EVENTS FEATURED A DIVERSE GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS AND MANY ENGAGING PANELS. IN SUPPORT OF SECC'S RESEARCH RELEASES, SECC PROVIDED THREE PUBLICALLY AVAILABLE RESEARCH BRIEF WEBINARS COVERING EACH STUDY INCLUDING THE 2021 STATE OF THE CONSUMER, SMART HOME AND ENERGY DATA AND THE RACIAL DISPARITIES AMONG LOWER-INCOME ENERGY CONSUMERS. EACH WEBINAR PROVIDED TOPIC-ORIENTED EXPERTS SPEAKING TO THE FINDINGS OF RESEARCH AND ITS IMPLICATIONS AS WELL AS ACTION STEPS FOR OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE INDUSTRY. ADDITIONALLY, SPEAKERS ANSWERED QUESTIONS AND ENGAGED IN DISCUSSION ABOUT EACH TOPIC.