Apr 18, 2018   SOURCE: BusinessWire

Utility Customers Show Strong Support for Renewables and Natural Gas Fuels

The utility industry is experiencing a significant shift in what consumers want and are willing to pay for from their energy providers. More than half (57%) prefer renewable energy and natural gas sources, and customers now show more support for utility investments in expanding environmentally friendly energy resources than for reliability or customer service improvements. These findings are from the 2018 Utility Trusted Brand & Customer Engagement™: Residential, a Cogent Reports™ study by Market Strategies International.

Generation Fuel Preference     First Choice
Renewables     33%
Natural Gas 24%
Total 57%
 

Source: Market Strategies International. Cogent Reports™. Utility Trusted Brand & Customer Engagement™: Residential, March 2018.

 

The study shows that demand for programs to help consumers manage their energy use and reduce their own environmental footprint has seen a steady increase over the past four years. Many utilities across the nation have recognized this trend and are benefiting from the consumption and carbon footprint management offerings they have implemented.

In honor of Earth Day (April 22), Market Strategies is awarding the 2018 Environmental Champion designation to 43 utilities. As a group, these 43 utilities have improved their Environmental Dedication performance score by an average of eight points this year while the score for all other utilities declined by an average of ten points

“In a celebration of Earth Day, we are pleased to recognize the great improvements our Environmental Champion utilities have made to improve their environmental programs,” said Chris Oberle, senior vice president at Market Strategies International. “It is important to pay attention to your environmental reputation, as it is now a permanent part of the utility business model.”

To become an Environmental Champion, a utility needs to show customers its dedication to supporting the environment by promoting clean energy, enabling consumption management, facilitating environmental causes, encouraging environmentally friendly fleets and buildings, and consistently seeking ways to protect the environment. The utility industry’s Environmental Dedication score now stands at 672 (on a 1,000-point scale).

Market Strategies would like to congratulate these utilities for being this year’s Environmental Champions!

   

2018 Environmental Champions*

Atmos Energy – South     Indiana Michigan Power Portland General Electric
BGE Indianapolis Power & Light PPL Electric Utilities
CenterPoint Energy – Midwest KCP&L PSNC Energy
CenterPoint Energy – South Kentucky Utilities Puget Sound Energy
Citizens Energy MidAmerican Energy Salt River Project
Columbia Gas – South National Grid Seattle City Light
ComEd New Jersey Natural Gas SEMCO Energy Gas Company
Con Edison Nicor Gas SMUD
Consumers Energy NW Natural SoCalGas
CPS Energy Ohio Edison TECO Peoples Gas
Dominion Energy - West Oklahoma Natural Gas UGI Utilities
DTE Energy OUC Washington Gas
Florida Power & Light PECO Energy Xcel Energy – West
Georgia Power Philadelphia Gas Works
Idaho Power Piedmont Natural Gas
 

* Environmental Champions were selected based on achieving a top-quartile industry or top-two benchmark segment score, or being within 20 points of the top benchmark score and above industry average for Environmental Dedication.

About Utility Trusted Brand & Customer Engagement: Residential study

Market Strategies conducted surveys among 62,565 residential electric, natural gas and combination utility customers of the 131 largest US utility companies (based on residential customer counts). The sample design uses a combination of quotas and weighting based on US census data to ensure a demographically balanced sample of each evaluated utility’s customers based on age, gender, income, race and ethnicity. Utilities within the same region and of the same type (e.g., electric-only providers) are given equal weight in order to balance the influence of each utility’s customers on survey results. Market Strategies will supply the exact wording of any survey questions upon request.

About Market Strategies International

Market Strategies International is a leading provider of research and consulting services to utility management, trusted by the world’s most successful organizations to help them thrive. We blend primary research with data from our syndicated, benchmarking and self-funded studies to provide clients with exceptional research insight that helps solve their challenges. Our research specialties include brand, communications, CX, product development and segmentation. Our syndicated products, known as Cogent Reports, help clients understand the market environment, explore industry trends and monitor their brand within the competitive landscape. Founded in 1989, Market Strategies is one of the largest market research firms in the world. Read Market Strategies’ blog at FreshMR, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.