Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Successful Customer Engagement: The Utility as Solar Advisor for Customers
Webinar FAQs • Recording & slides will be sent to all registered attendees next week. • Submit questions in the chat window at any time. • There will be polling during this event • Questions will be answered following the presentations. Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Upcoming Events! Join us September 25, 2014 for our next webinar
“Interconnection Best Practices: Wringing the Costs Out of DG PV” http://www.solarelectricpower.org
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Speakers
Miriam Makhyoun Patrick McCoy Brian Boler Research Manager Solar Retail Strategy Planner Product Manager SEPA Sacramento Municipal Utility District Clean Power Research
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Solar over Time
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions Source: Solar Electric Power Association Utility Solar Market Snapshot 2014
Market Segments over Time
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions Source: Solar Electric Power Association Utility Solar Market Snapshot 2014
Sacramento Municipal Utility District 2012 Residential Systems
2013 Residential Systems
2,500
2,500
2,000
2,000
1,500
1,500
1,000
1,000
500
500
0
0 2012
2013 Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Powering forward. Together. SM
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Topics of Discussion • Drivers Of Customer Adoption • Solar PV Market Activity • SMUD Perspective • Actions and Initiatives • Solar Engagement Demonstration • Opinion on Future Outlook
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Drivers of Customer Adoption
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Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Drivers of Customer Adoption of Solar PV Electric Bills Environment
Technology Adoption Drivers
Financing Options
Policy
Complementary Technologies 12
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Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
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Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Solar PV Market Activity
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Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Solar PV Market Activity • It’s Getting Confusing • Messaging can be troubling, even misleading • Are costs going to continue to go down – or should I get in now?
• It’s Getting More Competitive • 1,861 solar companies in California • Should I buy, finance, or lease?
• New Things Appear Everyday • New products and services (battery storage is next!) • Can I charge my electric vehicle with my solar PV system?
I just want to know – is solar PV right for me?
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Audience Poll Today, the most frequent question from solar customers is regarding: • • • • •
How large a solar system they should install Bill savings Available incentives Available financing options Optimal electric rates for solar Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
SMUD Perspective
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Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
SMUD Perspective Evaluate Options
Manage Costs
Trusted Advisor
Preferred Resource
Focus on Goals
Helping our customers make an informed decision! 18
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Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Audience Poll Ideally, the utility role concerning solar should be to: • Provide basic information about solar to customers • Facilitate customers’ solar decision making process • Play a role in the financing and/or ownership of distributed solar • All of the above Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Actions and Initiatives
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Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Actions and Initiatives Areas of Attention and Effort • • • • • • •
Focus on Getting the Basics Right Customer Experience Excellence Education and Training Expand Information Resources New Communication Channels New Business Models Self Service On-line Tools
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Solar Engagement Demonstration
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Audience Poll The most important things our utility could do to improve engagement with prospective solar customers are: • Offer a personalized solar analysis • Facilitate a direct connection to installers • Show where other solar energy systems are installed • Make on-bill financing available • Educate about solar requirements via our website Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Opinion on Future Outlook
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Opinion on Future Outlook Data Analytics Brand Loyalty
Create New Value 25
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CRM
Social Media Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
For questions about the solar engagement platform, contact Brian Boler, Clean Power Research
[email protected]; 425-242-4174 x7008 www.cleanpower.com/products/solar-engagement-platform Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Q&A
Miriam Makhyoun Patrick McCoy Brian Boler Research Manager Solar Retail Strategy Planner Product Manager SEPA Sacramento Municipal Utility District Clean Power Research
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions