GRU First in Florida to Launch New Home Energy Reporting Program
Pilot program to help customers manage energy usage
May 20, 2010
Starting next week, 40,000 randomly selected Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) residential customers will be mailed comparative home energy reports as part of a three-year pilot program. The reports will provide personalized energy usage information that will help customers reduce their energy use and save money on monthly utility bills. Funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, GRU is the first utility in Florida to offer this unique energy-efficiency program to its customers.
Developed by OPOWER, an energy efficiency and Smart Grid software company, the home energy reports provide GRU customers with actionable insights about their home energy usage, such as how their energy usage compares to the average in the neighborhood, combined with energy efficiency tips tailored for each household based on past usage patterns and demographic data. The reports are designed to give customers a greater understanding of how they are using energy in their homes and help them take smart, easy actions to become more energy efficient. Home energy report participants can also access this information online and receive further tips and recommendations.
“We believe that the home energy reports will deliver significant value to customers by providing a detailed analysis of their energy use,” said GRU Energy and Business Services Manager Bill Shepherd. “The reports have proven to deliver customer savings at utilities across the country, and we expect GRU’s pilot program to provide considerable savings for our customers as well.”
In the first year, the program is expected to result in a combined energy savings equal to about 9,900 megawatt hours – the amount needed to power nearly 1,000 homes for a year.
“We’re excited to partner with GRU, making it the first utility in Florida to offer its customers home energy reports,” said Alex Laskey, president and co-founder of OPOWER. “The program will enable GRU to more effectively engage customers by improving understanding of energy use and provide insights into the simple steps that will lead to energy and cost savings on monthly utility bills.”
Learn more about the home energy report program
View sample home energy report
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