When it comes to offering unique programs and key opportunities for upgrades, the utility industry has typically seen the lowest hanging fruit at commercial buildings or with homeowners in the residential sector. These customers own and operate their buildings, they are the ones solely paying the power bills, and they have the authority (and often the means) to invest in upgrades like efficiency improvements, on-site generation and energy storage, and more. For too long, though, that has left an unfortunate blind spot for key utility programs: renters in the residential sector.
Households that rent their homes have been the least tapped into traditionally by utilities because they don't have the aforementioned advantages, but the unfortunate irony is that these are the customers that often carry the most significant energy burden and could thus most benefit from assistance to bring down their power bills. Addressing the unique characteristics, needs, and opportunities of the home rental market has gained favor recently, even leading to the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative (SECC) publishing their report "Understanding the Needs and Wants of Renters." This study has already become a key tool for numerous utilities to reevaluate how they were approaching this key demographic. To highlight the findings of this study, podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester are joined by SECC's CEO, Nathan Shannon. To really drive home the impact this area of study has on the utilities, they are also joined by Elizabeth Moore, Manager of Commercial Energy Solutions at Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to discuss what changes they've been able to implement as a result.
Key Links:
Nathan Shannon's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/nathan-shannon
What’s Stopping Renters from Engaging in Energy?: https://energycentral.com/c/cc/what%E2%80%99s-stopping-renters-engaging-energy
How Utilities Can Better Serve Residential Renters: https://energycentral.com/c/cc/how-utilities-can-better-serve-residential-renters
Link to Energy Central Post with Full Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-74-understanding-what-renters-need-their-utilities-nathan-shannon-ceo
Link to register as a member of the Energy Central Community: www.energycentral.com/user/register
Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts
