Utilities Provide Insight into the Best Practices for Educating and Engaging Customers on Complex and Dynamic Pricing Programs
NASHVILLE (June 16, 2013) – SmartEnergy IP™, a research division of SmartMark Communications, LLC dedicated to customer education in the utilities industry, announced the publishing of their Nationwide Report on Smart Grid Customer Education Pricing Programs. SmartEnergy IP launched the study to better understand how electric utilities across the United States were educating and engaging their customers on dynamic and complex pricing programs, such as Time-of-Use (TOU), Critical Peak Pricing (CPP), and Critical Peak Rebate (CPR), among others.
In previous studies, SmartEnergy IP benchmarked best practices on customer engagement around advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) education programs and budgeting. This report focuses on utilities rolling out Smart Grid related pricing programs and brings attention to the education that has been done to support these programs. Best practices indicated through this survey show that utilities are making great strides in communications strategy, learning from each other and increasing methodologies and strategies around customer engagement.
“We are very satisfied with the wealth of information resulting from this study and want to thank all the participating utilities for their valuable contributions,” said Juliet Shavit, President and CEO of SmartMark Communications and Founder of the SmartEnergy IP practice. “While the industry may still have a long way to go when it comes to true innovation around customer communications and education strategies, we believe that there has been great progress made around improved education to consumers.”
Shavit added, “We applaud the organizations and individuals in the industry devoted to these causes and hope that the results of the report prove to be beneficial for utilities in developing and rolling out customer education campaigns for complex pricing programs.”
The results of this nationwide survey will be presented at the Smart Grid Customer Education Symposium on June 17, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee. The full report is available for purchase by contacting info@smartenergy-ip.com.
About SmartEnergy IP
SmartEnergy IP™ is a research and consulting organization within SmartMark Communications, LLC that is dedicated to helping utilities communicate the benefits of Smart Grid to customers. As utilities roll out Smart Grid initiatives – from smart meters to dynamic pricing programs—there are ways to ensure that customers are best prepared to make smart energy choices and positively support these rollouts. SmartMark Communications has over a decade of experience in the energy and utilities customer care domain, helping utilities and suppliers market effectively to customers. For more information, visit www.smartenergy-ip.com.
About SmartMark Communications, LLC
For over a decade, SmartMark Communications, LLC has provided companies, magazines and industry associations with strategic communications solutions. SmartMark provides public relations, integrated marketing and New Media solutions to help clients maximize marketing communications dollars and programs to improve visibility and drive business development. For more information, visit www.smartmarkusa.com.
Media Contact
Kristin Marcell
SmartMark Communications, LLC and SmartEnergy IP
215-504-4272
kristin@smartmarkusa.com