Why utilities are choosing concierge-style energy efficiency programs
Utilities are continually seeking new ways to more effectively engage with commercial and industrial (C&I) customers and help them implement additional energy-saving projects as part of their energy efficiency programs. With the competing priorities that C&I businesses face, however, energy efficiency is not always top of mind. In addition, businesses and organizations may not know how to get started with energy efficiency improvements, the scale of the potential projects that exist, or how to manage project implementation. These challenges present opportunities for utilities to provide enhanced energy efficiency services with their large customers. Concierge-style energy efficiency programs offer a high-touch, tailored approach to customer engagement, project identification, ongoing technical support, and project implementation.
A popular concept in the hospitality industry, concierge service is characterized as providing a high level of customer service by anticipating customer needs and making personalized recommendations unique to those needs. Derived from the same idea, concierge-style energy efficiency programs enhance the customer experience by providing energy expertise tailored to specific facility needs, assisting with various energy management strategies, and coordinating project implementation with contractors and equipment vendors. In addition to cost and time savings, the concierge-style approach offers a greater opportunity for utilities to build comprehensive energy plans with large customers – helping to create a framework for whole building system improvements and greater long-term savings.
Concierge-style programs are an ideal fit for a variety of industry segments – including industrial and manufacturing, water and wastewater, healthcare, agriculture, commercial office buildings, retail chains, data centers, and hospitality. This approach is also highly customizable to the specific goals or requirements of a utility. For example, if a utility is focused on achieving the highest amount of savings, the concierge-style program can target energy-intensive sectors such as metal casting, food processing, and pulp and paper in order to deliver the most savings through ongoing engagement with select customers. Likewise, the program can be designed to support utility goals beyond energy savings such as boosting involvement in industry segments with historically low participation or engaging facilities in low-income regions of the service territory.
Essential strategies for concierge-style energy efficiency programs
Using its more than 30 years of energy efficiency industry experience, Leidos places a heavy emphasis on equipping facility managers with the necessary metrics and statistics to effectively sell energy efficiency projects to company leadership. The Leidos team has designed and implemented successful concierge-style programs on behalf of utilities that leverage unique customer engagement approaches and assist customers in executing major energy efficiency projects. Our flexible concierge program approach helps businesses and organizations connect with energy efficiency in a way that aligns with their corporate goals and overcomes participation barriers related to the lack of staff resources or technical expertise.
Utilities often cite our ability to sell energy efficiency projects to their customers as a major differentiator in delivering a successful program.
Ron Gillooly
Energy Program Director
To learn more about Leidos and our concierge-style program solutions, contact our team.
