ATLANTA, Sept. 14, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Many utilities and other industry groups have come far enough in the process of educating customers and ensuring that manufacturers and retailers offer energy-efficient appliances that customers are likely to buy energy-efficient items with or without a rebate. While rebates are an important tool in initial promotional efforts, eventually consumers need to be weaned from them, according to several utility sources interviewed for Chartwell's latest report, Energy Efficiency Programs.
"More and more consumers are just buying (energy efficient appliances); they don't need an incentive, they don't need a rebate," Catherine Lezon, operations manager of conservation and load management at Connecticut Light & Power, told Chartwell. As such, the utility is spending more resources on partnerships with manufacturers and large-volume retailers to, for example, bring the price of compact florescent lightbulbs down to the point where consumers can readily try and accept them.
Other innovative and successful utility strategies go beyond the typical Web information, energy audits, loans and rebates as well. These include:
-- bill analysis software that helps utilities specifically address
high-bill complaint customers with the efficiency message;
-- programs targeting contractors and HVAC installers;
-- new home construction programs; and
-- innovating advertising and promotional campaigns.
The Energy Efficiency Programs report covers these topics and more in 10 in-depth utility case studies. The 70-page report also includes Chartwell data from its annual survey of utilities regarding products and services, as well as three chapters of analysis of that data.
Energy Efficiency Programs, which is available from Chartwell for $395, is part of The Chartwell Utility Marketing Research Series, which focuses on products, services and customer relations issues such as marketing, promotions and public communications.
The Research Series is a 12-month membership that includes a data summary and report and accompanying database based on Chartwell's extensive annual utility survey; regular in-depth reports and case studies covering specific products/services or marketing-related issues; one-on-one consultation with Chartwell research staff on topics covered; profiles of vendors poised to help utilities in this arena; and more.
For information on membership in The Chartwell Utility Marketing Research Series or the individual report, Energy Efficiency Programs, contact Bill Grist at (800)432-5879, (404)237-9099 or bgrist@chartwellinc.com; or visit www.chartwellinc.com or Chartwell's Energy Library at www.energylibrary.com.
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Chartwell Inc. seeks to provide a better understanding of technologies, issues and management practices in the utility and retail energy services industry through best practices case studies and quantitative research.