Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative

“Secc membership is open to all smart grid stakeholders including consumer and environmental advocacy organizations, technology providers, academic and research labs, and electric utilities for sharing in research, best practices, and the collaborative effort of the group.”

“Prior to the annual meeting of the members, each founding member shall have the right to designate one member of the board of directors, to remove the director designated by that founding member, and in the event such director is removed (by that founding member or by the board), resigns, or otherwise ceases to be a director, to designate a successor director, as set forth in the by-laws.”

“The organization conducts a review session for the form 990 that includes the finance committee, president/ceo, cfo and interested board members.”

“The organization monitors and enforces compliance with the conflict of interest policy through an annual board questionnaire disclosing relationships with any independent contractors and any past or present directors or officers. In connection with any actual or possible conflict of interest, an interested person must disclose the existence of the financial interest and be given the opportunity to disclose all material facts to the board of directors or to the members of the board committee considering the proposed transaction or arrangement. After disclosure of the financial interest and all material facts, and after any discussion with the interested person, the interested person shall leave the board of directors or board committee meeting while the determination of a conflict of interest is discussed and voted upon. The remaining directors or committee members shall decide if a conflict of interest exists.”

“Independent board members review and approve compensation for the president/ceo and top management to ensure that no more than the fair market value is paid for such services.”

“The irs determination letter, articles of incorporation, bylaws, 990 filing and financial records are available to any member of the public upon request.”

“Smart energy consumer collaborative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to serve as a trusted source of information on consumer's views of grid modernization, energy delivery and usage, and to help consumers understand the benefits of smart energy.”

“Research: in 2020, secc released four pieces of research and two companion white papers seeking to better understand smart energy consumers - their perceptions, attitudes and needs - and then leverage this understanding to formulate actions that utilities and other energy service providers can take to better serve and engage with their customers. In addition, secc produced five customer engagement case studies that profiled how energy utilities in the u.s. Are making significant strides in educating and engaging their customers about how to better control their energy use, the resulting utility costs and the benefits of shifting their consumption. All of these resources were put together by a volunteer-based research committee consisting of members who helped shape secc's research agenda, reviewed detailed findings and discussed the implications and presentation of those findings. Secc released the most current version of its annual 2020 state of the consumer report, an analysis of secc's 2019 research findings that provides a big picture look at the needs and wants of residential energy consumers in the united states and canada. Secc released its beneficial electrification: the voice of the consumer report, a study which provides insights on how consumers think about beneficial electrification and climate change. As electricity generation in the u.s. Becomes increasingly cleaner, electrification is gaining momentum as a strategy to reduce carbon emissions and address climate change. This study reached a nationally representative sample of 1,200 americans to gauge interest in switching to electricity, determine barriers that might exist and uncover underlying motivations for switching. A companion the beneficial electrification: industry views on consumer needs white paper explores the role that electrification can play in addressing climate change and looks at the benefits that can potentially be delivered to residential consumers. It was developed from a review of industry publications and in-depth interviews with 11 experts. Secc released its modern customer engagement journey report and videos that revealed consumers' attitudes and values related to energy, smart home technology, their electricity providers and more during the covid-19 pandemic. This research was developed from more than 30 on-camera interviews recorded from june 15 to july 2 in the united states and canada. These interviews focused on understanding the reasons behind consumers' energy-related behaviors and their views on their electricity providers, renewable energy and other important issues. The videos for this project included a summary video, a key takeaways video and one video for each of the consumer segments that were part of the research. Secc released its understanding lower-income consumers and the smart energy future report that sheds light on lower-income consumers' behaviors, attitudes and value as they relate to energy efficiency, smart home technology, renewable energy, their electricity providers and climate change. The report was developed from an online national survey administered to 1,000 consumers across the united states in august and september 2020. And found that lower-income consumers' values largely align with those of higher-income americans. Saving money is their primary driver of energy decision-making - a finding consistent with secc's past research. Lower-income consumers also expressed considerable concern for the environment and support for investments in clean energy: eighty-one percent value these two priorities. A companion approaches for better serving lower-income consumers white paper explores low-income programs from electricity providers and provides an analysis of what makes these programs work for these under-resourced consumers. Finally, secc released five new customer engagement success stories covering southern california edison, con edison, puget sound energy, baltimore gas and electric and pepco and delmarva”

“Education: in 2020, secc continued to produce educational resources and increase learning opportunities. Through a volunteer-based education and outreach committee, members worked together to improve consumer awareness and understanding of modernized electrical systems by recognizing smart energy success, expanding available resources to stakeholders and amplifying the smart energy benefits message to consumers nationwide. Secc continued a best practices awards program that identified leadership from energy providers shifting toward a more consumer-focused energy ecosystem. The third annual edition of the awards identified six winners - austin energy, comed, cps energy, national grid, puget sound energy and pepco/delmarva power. They were each recognized at the 2020 consumer symposium in san antonio, tx. The awards program focuses on real-life examples of customer engagement and education success and highlights a blueprint for other electricity providers (and their industry partners) to follow. Secc also hosted a series of seventeen free peer connect webinars concerning topics ranging from 2020 best practices awards, value of online marketplaces in the covid era, engaging lower-income consumers in energy and smart grid investments: have consumers benefited. Each webinar covered smart energy and consumer related topics featuring speakers from stakeholders with expertise in that specific subject. Additionally, speakers answered questions and engaged in discussion about each topic. Utilizing the five themes from the 2020 state of the consumer report, secc published an in-depth identifying and meeting consumer needs white paper that highlighted successful customer programs and services from electricity providers across the united states and canada including an environmentally focused education campaign, an electric vehicle rate plan, a digital shopping platform for rooftop solar, an online marketplace for energy- efficient and smart home products, and a demand response program that includes a free smart thermostat for participating customers. In 2020, the education & outreach committee continued with its toolkit approach, producing multiple resources under a common theme to maximize the reach and usefulness of the educational materials for members. The education committee completed three toolkits on important industry topics in 2020. Secc created a renewable energy toolkit, a collection of resources intending to educate consumers on the basics of renewable energy, the primary reasons for its rapid growth and the benefits it offers consumers and society at large. While the renewable energy 101 guidebook was published at the end of 2019, a three-minute youtube video and social media banners for members were released in the first quarter of 2020. Secc created an inside the smart home toolkit, a collection of educational resources to help consumers understand what smart home technologies are available today and what benefits they might receive by using them. The toolkit includes the inside the smart home faq, which provides consumers with detailed, but easy-to-understand answers for their top questions around smart home technology, and the smart home infographic, which provides an inside-the-home look at smart thermostats, electric vehicles, smart lighting and more. Secc also created the energy 101 videos, a series of one-minute educational videos designed to help consumers understand basic, yet important concepts related to energy today. These three videos focus on the importance of energy efficiency, the impact of weather on energy bills and the consumer benefits of beneficial electrification. Secc continued enhancing materials on its consumer-facing website, www.whatissmartenergy.org by first completing a redesign. The homepage now features an interactive smart home infographic, and the website was reorganized to make it easier for consumers to find relevant content on electric vehicles, renewable energy, the smart grid and more. S”

“Collaboration: during 2020, secc continued to maintain its unique membership base, including technology vendors and consultants, energy providers and affiliates, and added ten new members indicating the value in the research and educational materials produced as well as the collaboration facilitated. Secc presented at 13 conferences and workshops, in person and virtual, across the country. To further the reach of secc's research and educational materials, secc released seven media centered press releases. In addition, secc was featured in over 85 articles in trade media. Secc continued to collaborate among stakeholders including issuing a monthly e-newsletter and twelve additional president's post blog posts from secc's president & ceo patty durand on topics like five insights on energy consumers for 2020 and helping consumers save energy during covid-19. Secc continued a consistent social media presence on twitter, facebook, linkedin and youtube. Throughout 2020, secc also continued the weekly above the fold, a newsletter that kept members and non-members abreast of smart energy and consumer industry news and trends. Secc also hosted two conferences in 2020 including the annual consumer symposium, consumers and the future of energy, open to the public and a virtual, members meeting & fall workshop where members focused on discussing the most pertinent issues in smart energy today and planning future secc initiatives for 2020. Both events featured a diverse group of stakeholders and many engaging panels. In support of secc's research releases, secc provided four publically available research brief webinars covering each study including the 2020 state of the consumer, beneficial electrification, the modern customer engagement journey and finally lower-income consumers and smart energy. Each webinar provided topic-oriented experts speaking to the findings of research and its implications as well as action steps for opportunities within the industry. Additionally, speakers answered questions and engaged in discussion about each topic.”