Using consumer engagement to drive your smart grid strategy

The successful transition to smart energy is highly dependent on adoption by consumers. So energy companies and regulators striving to implement a smart meter or Smart Grid solution must engage and communicate with consumers early to ensure their needs will be met and the benefits for them are realised. 

This means consumers must understand what smart meters and a Smart Grid mean for them through deliberate and focused communication. But also ensuring their needs are the driving force behind these large change programmes.

For example, in some recent client work, consumers have told us directly that they want a better understanding of their energy bills and would like the tools and knowledge to help see their bills reduced. They would also like more accurate and timely information from their energy providers via a choice of channels, along with incentive schemes that reward them for reducing their energy consumption and/or changing their usage patterns.

Energy companies making the transition to smart meters or a Smart Grid solution must ensure these consumer needs (and more) are met when connecting the dots of their strategy. They must also engage with consumers through many different channels to clearly and meaningfully communicate the benefits of smart meters and a Smart Grid and incentivise them to change their attitude towards energy consumption.

Click here to find out more about our thinking in this area, or to speak to one of our experts on developing your Smart Grid strategy, please contact us now.