Five Simple Ways to Tap Your Greatest Power

Five Simple Ways to Tap Your Greatest Power

Consumers may be the greatest untapped resource a utility has in the move towards the smart grid . Customers can be empowered to manage their own energy consumption and make behavioural changes that are favourable towards energy management. The potential for energy savings are enormous for both utilities and consumers.

One of the biggest challenges may very well be getting customers to change their energy consumption behaviours . Fortunately , recent studies have shown that consumers want to go green. Home owners in focus groups conducted by Green Research responded favourably to the idea that better information would give them greater control over their energy use

There are five basic principles that utilities can employ that can help turn customers into a great source of power .

Namely they are :

1. Educate

Utilities simply need to educate consumers of all opportunities the smart grid provides and how variable pricing and smart meters will arm them with the information they need to actively manage and reduce their energy costs.



2. Engage

Getting the customers attention and holding it by giving them a compelling reason to be involved in a conservation as a partner right from the start. By encouraging to take part in making a difference in not only their own energy output but that of the larger community as a whole will ultimately get consumers engaged in the bigger cause of energy efficiency.

3. Empower

The smart grid will allow consumers unprecedented access to their home’s real time electricity usage information . Thus , customers will feel empowered by having control over their own energy usage and output as well as what they pay on a monthly basis.

4. Emphasize

Utilities need to emphasize that the smart grid can help them respond more efficiently to variable power production introduced by renewable sources , power outages and ultimately build fewer and decrease the use of carbon based power plants.

5. Equip

Utilities should provide the best option and tools to make home energy management possible. User friendly smart meters and home energy management systems with high tech flashy features will be important in attracting early adaptors who can be key influencers within the customer base. Giving customers what they want will ultimately benefit the utility by driving profits up and saving energy in peak demand periods.

.http://static.schneider-electric.us/docs/Electrical%20Distribution/0100DB1107.pdf