Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative study touts electrification’s ability to fight climate change
The Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative (SECC) recently explored the capabilities of electrification to address climate change and benefit consumers through new programs and policies.
The study, titled Beneficial Electrification: Industry Views on Consumer Needs, consisted of a review of industry publications and in-depth interviews with 11 experts. It took a particular interest in residential buildings and transportation. Three major points emerged among the variety of responses: different regions will need different paths to beneficial electrification, stakeholders will need to listen to consumers regarding programs and policies, and consumers will require greater education going forward to guarantee understanding and engagement with said efforts.
“Beneficial means something different to everyone,” Keith Dennis, a vice president with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), said. “For these programs and policies to be successful, proponents will need to have a thorough understanding of what consumers perceive about electrification, what incentives will encourage participation and what climate change-related messaging or other policy drivers resonate.”
The study is the first of two SECC publications meant to address beneficial electrification and residential consumers this year. Another should follow in June, offering a more quantitative study with insights from a nationally representative sample of consumers about expectations, motivations, barriers, and perceptions around beneficial electrification. Such studies, the SECC hopes, will help policymakers and utilities act to save money for consumers, enable better grid management, and reduce climate-changing emissions.
The collaborative is also holding a two-part webinar series on the new study: one this afternoon and one on Tuesday, April 21.
