Effective Customer Communications for Smart Tariff, Metering Programs

Publication: Powergrid International
Issue Date: Oct 2011

The utility industry is reaching an inflexion point in smart tariff and metering initiatives' development, and enhanced customer communications will be vital to the programs' successes.

Many U.S. utilities are designing smart tariff strategies and introducing smart metering devices to market. Some are conducting pilot programs to assess effects on customer use patterns, bills and peak demand. While it is early in the industry's evolution to these new programs, the next five years will be critical.

Utilities should consider the interim period's opportunity: The companies could work to gain customer acceptance of both the new technologies and the industry's shift to a smarter grid. Clear, effective communications between utilities and customers could achieve this goal. If communications are ineffective, utility-customer-regulator relationships could be compromised. Read More