Thursday, April 5, 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Customers Increasingly Favor Web-based Interactions With Their Energy Provider, Accenture Research Shows
Customers Increasingly Favor Web-based Interactions With Their Energy Provider, Accenture Research Shows
April 04, 2012
Customers Increasingly Favor Web-based Interactions With Their Energy Provider, Accenture Research Shows
Survey of more than 10,000 consumers worldwide provides insights on the actions energy providers can take to improve customer choice, interaction and loyalty
San Francisco; April 4, 2012 – As energy providers continue to face global economic uncertainty and the need to focus on operational imperatives such as cost-effectiveness, revenue management, and customer satisfaction, new Accenture (NYSE: ACN) research shows that there are real growth opportunities for those companies that provide greater choice, Web-based connection options and loyalty programs to their customers.
The third installment in Accenture’s multi-year New Energy Consumer research program,Actionable Insights for the New Energy Consumer, explores how consumers want to interact with their energy providers, the products and services they value, and key drivers of purchasing and loyalty behavior. It also identifies a number of actions energy executives can take to strengthen their businesses.
“Successful providers will be those that create targeted offering and value propositions aligned with energy consumer needs,” said Greg Guthridge, managing director, Accenture Retail and Business Services for Utilities. “From commoditized energy with limited service, to premium product and service bundles, there is broad interest in various product and service offerings that will require new capabilities and innovative business models.”
For example, over half of consumers say they are interested in additional products and services from their electricity provider. Fifty-seven percent of respondents said that they would be interested in products and materials that could help them lower energy consumption by making small home improvements; the same percentage said they are interested in purchasing home energy-generation products such as solar or geothermal installations.
“This presents an opportunity for energy providers and other market entrants to create bundled propositions that address a broader spectrum of consumers’ home management needs,” said Guthridge.
The study also focused on consumer interaction preferences. Consumers overwhelmingly prefer “Web-enabled channels,” such as Web portals, mobile applications and email, for the majority of their interactions. A majority of survey respondents said they prefer Web-enabled channels for changing their address (57 percent) and receiving their bill (71 percent).
Consumers are also showing increased interest in engaging with their electricity providers through some form of social media. Thirty percent of consumers interact or plan to interact with their electricity provider on social networks, posting comments or following their provider’s “tweets.” About two-thirds (68 percent) of respondents in emerging markets, such as Brazil, China, South Korea and South Africa, currently use or plan to use social media to discuss or learn about energy-related issues with other consumers or groups, compared with 29 percent of respondents from mature economies.
In terms of customer satisfaction and loyalty, most consumers in deregulated markets (55 percent) would recommend their electricity provider to family and friends, while 14 percent would not. One-quarter (25 percent) are considering switching to another electricity provider in the next 12 months.
Not surprisingly, the primary reason given for switching energy providers is saving money, as 89 percent of consumers in deregulated markets said that a reduced electricity bill would be a main factor motivating them to switch providers.
While price is important, it is not the only factor consumers consider. The study shows that 60 percent of consumers would be motivated to switch electricity providers for a rate plan that better suits their needs. Renewable energy options were also cited as an important factor in switching providers (by 33 percent), as were product and service bundles, loyalty rewards and better customer service.
Accenture’s Research Program and Methodology
Accenture’s annual global survey is based on questionnaire-led interviews with 10,158 residential end customers in 19 countries, conducted online in native languages in December 2011.
The study http://www.accenture.com/us-en/Pages/insight-actionable-new-energy-consumer.aspx is the third installment in Accenture’s multi-year New Energy Consumer research program aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of consumers’ attitudes, opinions and preferences toward energy management programs. The first installment, Understanding Consumer Preferences in Energy Efficiency, was released in April 2010. Complementing that research, the second installment, Revealing the Values of the New Energy Consumer, was released in April 2011.
About Accenture
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with more than 246,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. The company generated net revenues of US$25.5 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2011. Its home page is www.accenture.com.
# # #
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Monday, April 2, 2012
EPA to Allow 15 Percent Renewable Fuel in Gasoline
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:April 2, 2012
EPA to Allow 15 Percent Renewable Fuel in Gasoline
Agency approves first applications for registration of ethanol to make E15
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the first applications for registration of ethanol for use in making gasoline that contains up to 15 percent ethanol – known as E15. Ethanol is a renewable fuel that can be mixed with gasoline. For over 30 years ethanol has been blended into gasoline, but the law limited it to 10 percent by volume for use in gasoline-fueled vehicles. Registration of ethanol to make E15 is a significant step toward its production, sale, and use in model year 2001 and newer gasoline-fueled cars and light trucks.
To enable widespread use of E15, the Obama Administration has set a goal to help fueling station owners install 10,000 blender pumps over the next 5 years. In addition, both through the Recovery Act and the 2008 Farm Bill, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Department of Agriculture have provided grants, loans and loan guarantees to spur American ingenuity on the next generation of biofuels.
Today’s action follows an extensive technical review required by law. Registration is a prerequisite to introducing E15 into the marketplace. Before it can be sold, manufactures must first take additional measures to help ensure retail stations and other gasoline distributors understand and implement labeling rules and other E15-related requirements. EPA is not requiring the use or sale of E15.
Ethanol is considered a renewable fuel because it is generally produced from plant products or wastes and not from fossil fuels. Ethanol is blended with gasoline for use in most areas across the country. After extensive vehicle testing by DOE and other organizations, EPA issued two partial waivers raising the allowable ethanol volume to 15 percent for use in model year 2001 and newer cars and light trucks.
E15 is not permitted for use in motor vehicles built prior to 2001 model year and in off-road vehicles and equipment such as boats and lawn and garden equipment. Gas pumps dispensing E15 will be clearly labeled so consumers can make the right choice.
More information: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/fuels/additive/e15/
EPA to Allow 15 Percent Renewable Fuel in Gasoline
Agency approves first applications for registration of ethanol to make E15
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the first applications for registration of ethanol for use in making gasoline that contains up to 15 percent ethanol – known as E15. Ethanol is a renewable fuel that can be mixed with gasoline. For over 30 years ethanol has been blended into gasoline, but the law limited it to 10 percent by volume for use in gasoline-fueled vehicles. Registration of ethanol to make E15 is a significant step toward its production, sale, and use in model year 2001 and newer gasoline-fueled cars and light trucks.
To enable widespread use of E15, the Obama Administration has set a goal to help fueling station owners install 10,000 blender pumps over the next 5 years. In addition, both through the Recovery Act and the 2008 Farm Bill, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Department of Agriculture have provided grants, loans and loan guarantees to spur American ingenuity on the next generation of biofuels.
Today’s action follows an extensive technical review required by law. Registration is a prerequisite to introducing E15 into the marketplace. Before it can be sold, manufactures must first take additional measures to help ensure retail stations and other gasoline distributors understand and implement labeling rules and other E15-related requirements. EPA is not requiring the use or sale of E15.
Ethanol is considered a renewable fuel because it is generally produced from plant products or wastes and not from fossil fuels. Ethanol is blended with gasoline for use in most areas across the country. After extensive vehicle testing by DOE and other organizations, EPA issued two partial waivers raising the allowable ethanol volume to 15 percent for use in model year 2001 and newer cars and light trucks.
E15 is not permitted for use in motor vehicles built prior to 2001 model year and in off-road vehicles and equipment such as boats and lawn and garden equipment. Gas pumps dispensing E15 will be clearly labeled so consumers can make the right choice.
More information: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/fuels/additive/e15/
Sunday, April 1, 2012
The Booming App Economy
The Booming App Economy
March 30, 2012 - 11:35am
Apps for Energy offers $100,000 in cash prizes to the developers with the best energy-focused apps. Design by Hantz Leger. The ever-increasing demand for new mobile and web programs and the developers who build them are the driving forces behind a rapidly growing industry – the "app economy."
In just a few short years, this new industry has established itself as a formidable job creator. Since the iPhone's introduction in 2007, the app economy is estimated to have created nearly 500,000 jobs in the U.S., according to a study released by TechNet, an advocacy organization for the technology industry.
In addition to fostering job growth, the app economy acts as a catalyst for a rising wave of innovation. Well-documented Application Programming Interfaces, open source software, and low-cost tools make it easy for app developers to innovate and test out new ideas.
The Energy Department supports the creation and commercialization of new ideas, with programs that make it easier for companies to use the technologies developed at our National Labs, and with grants to companies that are working on innovative technologies. The Energy Department’s Apps for Energy competition brings this same commitment to the app economy, offering cash prizes to the developers of the best new energy-focused applications.
In the case of Apps for Energy, the challenge at hand is helping consumers get the most out of their electricity usage data. Through the Green Button initiative, millions of Americans can now access their electricity usage data online – straight from their utility or electricity supplier. This data comes in standard, open format, and we're challenging app developers to combine it with other data sets, models, analysis, and sharing tools to create an app that helps utility customers understand their energy usage.
Since its launch, 12 utilities have committed to providing more than 27 million Americans with their electricity data via Green Button, with Reliant being the latest utility to roll the program out.
Companies are proving the viability of Green Button data. FirstFuel Software – a commercial building energy analytics company – recently announced that it will use Green Button data to perform comprehensive, energy assessments of commercial buildings. Technology companies, such as Tendril and Opower, also have plans to build products compatible with Green Button data.
Even as more companies get involved, there is still enormous potential to leverage Green Button data. Developing applications and services to help consumers understand and control their energy use is a field ripe for American innovation. We’re looking forward to seeing how developers will bring Green Button data to life.
In just a few short years, this new industry has established itself as a formidable job creator. Since the iPhone's introduction in 2007, the app economy is estimated to have created nearly 500,000 jobs in the U.S., according to a study released by TechNet, an advocacy organization for the technology industry.
In addition to fostering job growth, the app economy acts as a catalyst for a rising wave of innovation. Well-documented Application Programming Interfaces, open source software, and low-cost tools make it easy for app developers to innovate and test out new ideas.
The Energy Department supports the creation and commercialization of new ideas, with programs that make it easier for companies to use the technologies developed at our National Labs, and with grants to companies that are working on innovative technologies. The Energy Department’s Apps for Energy competition brings this same commitment to the app economy, offering cash prizes to the developers of the best new energy-focused applications.
In the case of Apps for Energy, the challenge at hand is helping consumers get the most out of their electricity usage data. Through the Green Button initiative, millions of Americans can now access their electricity usage data online – straight from their utility or electricity supplier. This data comes in standard, open format, and we're challenging app developers to combine it with other data sets, models, analysis, and sharing tools to create an app that helps utility customers understand their energy usage.
Since its launch, 12 utilities have committed to providing more than 27 million Americans with their electricity data via Green Button, with Reliant being the latest utility to roll the program out.
Companies are proving the viability of Green Button data. FirstFuel Software – a commercial building energy analytics company – recently announced that it will use Green Button data to perform comprehensive, energy assessments of commercial buildings. Technology companies, such as Tendril and Opower, also have plans to build products compatible with Green Button data.
Even as more companies get involved, there is still enormous potential to leverage Green Button data. Developing applications and services to help consumers understand and control their energy use is a field ripe for American innovation. We’re looking forward to seeing how developers will bring Green Button data to life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)