Consumers Want What?
Rather than accept the rhetoric, let’s find out.
What’s missing is asking consumers to consider realistic tradeoffs between two characteristics of electricity rather than the desirability of a single characteristic in isolation.
Customer Engagement
No Consumer Advocates! 50 Years Ago
PUF editorial in 1966 shows what a dramatically different culture it was then.
Check out this editorial from 50 years ago, in the April 14, 1966 issue of Public Utilities Fortnightly. In this criticism of the notion of a utility consumer advocate, the rhetoric reveals a gigantic gulf between American society of then and of now.
Illicit Marketing Practices
State PUCs take aim at unscrupulous electric and gas suppliers.
We’ll cover state PUC rulings from New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Ohio, dealing with 1) billing overcharges, 2) deceptive promises of savings, 3) faulty enrollment practices, 4) “slamming,” 5) misleading sales scripts used in telemarketing, 6) hidden fixed charges, and 7) concealed pass-through clauses.
Today's NASUCA
To ensure reliable and affordable service remains a primary focus.
NASUCA continues to bring the consumer advocate message to Washington D.C. Most recently it filed a letter in opposition to a U.S. Senate energy bill (S. 2012) amendment, King-Reid #3120. The letter voiced concerns about a move to federally institutionalize full net metering.
Musk and Me
I signed up for a free quote on line.
With all the talk of the “existential threat” to traditional utilities from solar and other disruptive technologies (and the blowback against net metering in various states), I thought I’d check out SolarCity first hand.
Action by Choice
Time-varying rates is an effective way to satisfy customer demands.
In the 21st century economy pivoted on customer choice, opt-in is the path to tread in the provision of time varying rates to electricity customers.
Georgia: On Becoming a Social Media Junkie
2015 Regulators Forum
Being in the “energy” business as a commissioner, staff, lobbyist or industry leader is hard enough without social media, right? When you add Twitter and Facebook to the mix, it is enough to drive one crazy. Who needs it? Well, we all do, really.
Rethink Your Marketing
Your customers are going mobile. So should your ad dollars.
Just how are utilities getting out the word? Legacy media is important but the use mobile devices are gaining ground.
Becoming Customer-Centric
Two utilities embrace technology and innovation.
Today the rise of customer-centric technology and innovation has created a whole new set of challenges. Advances have occurred in energy efficiency, demand response, distributed solar, energy storage, and electric vehicles, as well as smart grid infrastructure and analytics. Electric utilities have two basic choices: react to the agendas of the special interests or chart a path forward to create the most value for stakeholders and customers.
Show Them the Money
Customer Connection: How to win over customers on energy efficiency.
New Research into energy efficiency, smart grid technologies and renewables will have utilities and regulators pleasantly surprised.