Says Who? Transitioning from Utility to Third-Party Energy Efficiency Information Sources

Kathy Kuntz, Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation
Barbara Samuel, Wisconsin Department of Administration
Jessica Kurtenbach, Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation

Keywords

Abstract

Historically Wisconsin consumers have relied on their gas and electric utility companies for information and advice when it comes to energy efficiency issues. Surveys indicate that upwards of 70 percent of Wisconsin consumers identify their utility as a primary source of information on energy issues. This confidence level was beneficial when Wisconsin utilities were the primary deliverers of energy efficiency information and programs, but responsibility for those activities is now transitioning away from utilities to the state and its non-profit contractors. This means that utilities are less informed about program offerings and they may be less invested in talking with residential consumers about energy efficiency issues. One of the primary challenges for the state’s new public benefits programs, then, is successfully transitioning consumer queries from the utilities to the third parties who are implementing energy efficiency programs as part of the state’s public benefits programs.

This paper will explore the challenges and surprises involved in transitioning from a system where each utility delivered information to residential customers independently to one where the statewide public benefits program is intended to be the primary source of information and program offerings. The authors summarize the strategies used to facilitate this transition as well as lessons learned.