Energy Efficiency Program Shaves 2.1% Off Power Bills in Minnesota

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Customers of Minnesota utility Connexus Energy using OPOWER's residential energy efficiency program saved 2.1% on their electricity bills, according to independently evaluated results of the first full year of the program. It worked consistently well in hot and cool climates and across demographic groups, including political affiliations. The results of the home energy management program were assessed and verified by

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Power System Engineering, Inc. which used data from a three-year period. OPOWER's Home Energy Reports is customized for each household and integrates evaluations of customers' energy use patterns with behavioral science techniques to encourage them to take action. Customers are able to see how their energy use stacks up against homes of similar size in their neighborhoods, and they get brief personalized recommendations on how to save electricity and money. OPOWER has contracts with more than 30 utilities in 20 states.

Quick Take: Tweaking customer behavior can be a tricky thing. A recent Smart Grid News review on OPOWER's program said 80% of its users take action, so the company seems to have the hang of it. But as we've said before, no one company has come up with a complete home energy management system.

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