ENGAGING ENERGY INFORMATION
GridPoint’s consumer portals provide customers with relevant, useful and compelling energy information. Customized content is made available through a series of widgets that can be viewed and arranged according to the user’s interests and needs. Video, avatars and engaging visual displays ensure a rich, rewarding consumer experience.
The portals’ widget-based design offers maximum flexibility and allows utilities to easily expand their customer engagement beyond home energy management. New widgets are quickly and easily added to the portals, involving customers in demand response, solar, smart charging and other programs as utilities expand the scope of their smart grid offerings.Widgets providing home energy information include:
My Home Widget – Consumers are able to quickly gain an understanding of energy use based on the characteristics of their home. A simple and fun four-step wizard gathers key information and provides consumption, cost and carbon footprint estimates. Registered users receive customizable graphs and visual depictions of their historical usage and cost data to illustrate and further clarify consumption trends.
My Bill Widget – Billing information for both gas and electric usage is displayed graphically for rapid, easy understanding. Learning tools, including comparisons, “report card” analysis and estimated saving based on time-of-use rates, help consumers grasp the impact of the their energy use. Integration with the utility bill pay system allows customers to pay their bills online from the My Bill widget.
Thermostat Widget – Consumers are able to manage smart thermostat settings remotely, controlling the temperature at home even when they’re away. The Thermostat Widget supports multiple thermostats, setting periods and profiles. An easy-to-use calculator shows consumers how small changes in their thermostat settings can have significant impacts on their energy bill and carbon footprint. Current weather information and a two-day forecast are also available.
Device Widget – Users are able to manage various devices within their homes, including lights, thermostats, pool pumps and appliances. Through the Device Widget, consumers designate the name, location and priority of individual devices, grouping them for joint on/off control. Activity is displayed graphically, creating an immediate understanding of the consumption and cost impact of individual devices.
Conservation Widget – Highly customizable, the Conservation Widget provides consumers with valuable tips to improve their energy efficiency. The widget accommodates video and interactive content, easily engaging customers with information about key initiatives and recruiting participation in various programs.
Mode Widget – Customers are able to schedule their energy usage based on the days of the week, hours of the day, vacations or other predictable patterns. From a mobile device or Internet connection, consumers can quickly see their current energy use and remotely manage consumption.