Case Study
Electricity providers in the U.S. and Canada are making strides in educating and engaging consumers on how to better control how much energy they use, the resulting costs they incur and the benefits of shifting their usage.
These case studies collected by the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative spotlight how smart energy technologies have engaged consumers to enable them to match the energy they use with their needs and lifestyles.
Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider, provides natural gas and/or electricity to 6.7 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. The company recently announced a sweeping proposal to stop using coal as a fuel source for electricity by 2025 — 15 years faster than currently planned.
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Consumers Energy shifted their efforts and focus to help small-and-medium businesses (SMBs) save energy during a very challenging time. The company launched a Virtual Energy Coaching service and the Gift $100 Offer for the online Marketplace in early April. The Get to Free Offer was added in late May, followed by a free smart thermostat campaign later in the year.
Adaptations to Consumers Energy’s SMB portfolio led to considerable benefits for Michigan’s businesses during an unprecedented year. The Virtual Energy Coaching resulted in 12,103 out-bound calls and 400 virtual energy assessments. In addition, 1,500 businesses received $100 gift vouchers to the online Marketplace. Overall, these programs achieved energy reductions of over 114,000 MWh of electricity and over 400,000 MCF of natural gas in 2020.
