|
Search |
Small Commercial Customers Seen as Preferring Utility for Efficiency, On-site Technologies, DEFG Survey Finds
September 2, 2011
Email This Story
Small commercial customers would prefer to receive energy efficiency and similar on-site value-added services from their utility, surveyed energy industry professionals said in the Distributed Energy Financial Group LLC's 2011 Consumer Choice and Retail Energy Competition Survey.
DEFG LLC's survey included 214 energy professionals, geographically dispersed, comprised of 38% from the industry (suppliers, generators, utilities, etc.), 36% consultants to industry, 18% government/academic/public interest, and 5% consumer.
Among other things, respondents were asked: "Who would a small commercial or large industrial customer prefer to deal with to receive value-added, on-site technologies and services or to assist with energy efficiency investments?"
For small commercial customers, about 32% of respondents answered that small commercial customers would prefer to deal with the utility for energy efficiency investments and similar on-site value-added services. Although this was the leading provider of such services cited by respondents, the 32% was down from the 2009 survey in which nearly 40% of respondents believed that small commercial customers would prefer to receive such services from the utility.
The second most-cited source of energy efficiency services expected to be preferred by small commercial customers was an "energy service company / specialized provider," at about 20%. This category was distinct from "competitive energy retailer (electric or gas)," which was cited as the third most preferred provider of efficiency services, at 12%.
In contrast, respondents most often said that large industrial customers would prefer using an RFP open to all qualified providers (28%), or in-house staff (27%), for efficiency services. An "energy service company / specialized provider" was ranked the third most preferred source for large industrial customers, at 20%, with both competitive energy retailers and utilities cited by just under 10% of respondents as the preferred source of efficiency services for large industrial customers.
The survey also addresses future expectations for electric prices, drivers for commercial customers' shopping decisions, features of workably competitive markets, and respondents' views on individual state efforts on electric competition. Additional details are available by contacting Nat Treadway, Managing Partner at DEFG, at ntreadway@defgllc.com.
DEFG annually prepares the Annual Baseline Assessment of Choice in Canada and the United States (ABACCUS), a scorecard on electricity restructuring. Treadway told Matters that the ABACCUS report is expected to be published in November this year (as opposed December as has been done previously).
The responses from the 2011 Consumer Choice and Retail Energy Competition Survey will be reflected in the 2011 ABACCUS report. Additionally, the 2011 ABACCUS will reflect the results from a prior survey conducted by DEFG's strategic marketing company, EcoAlign, titled "Resurgence for Retail Electricity Choice and Competition?" (see 4/27 for discussion of this prior survey)
Email This Story
Be Seen By Energy Professionals in Retail and Wholesale Marketing
Run Ads with Energy Choice Matters
Call Paul Ring
954-
|
Search |
