Neighbor Comparison
The neighbor comparison compares the customer's energy use to that of two groups, Efficient Neighbors and All Neighbors, and then displays the results in a horizontal bar graph. The goal is to persuade customers to improve their status by using less energy on subsequent peak days. The contents of the module vary depending on whether or not a peak event has already occurred.
On this page:
Pre-Event Email
After a peak event's occurrence, the neighbor comparison module shows how much energy the customer used during the previous event and how their usage compares to two groups—All Neighbors and Efficient Neighbors—who also participated in the event.
The following is an example of the neighbor comparison module during the summer season. During the winter season, this module can be used to show neighbor comparisons oriented to winter peak days.
If there are no prior peak events, the neighbor comparison includes a generic bar chart containing mock data that poses a question to entice customers to participate. It also includes a statement that specifies the date and time of the upcoming peak event.
The following are descriptions of the pre-event neighbor comparison module:
- Insight: An insight statement that explains how well the customer performed in relation to their neighbors. This statement varies slightly depending on the customer's performance.
- Date and Time of Peak Event: The date and time of the most recent peak event. If the customer has never experienced a peak event, the date and time does not appear.
- Bar Chart: The bar chart displays how much energy each group in the comparison used. Within the chart, the bar with the smallest value is on top and the bar with the largest value is at the bottom.
- You: This bar indicates how the customer performed during the peak event. This is often a color that corresponds to the utility brand color.
- All Neighbors: This bar indicates how all the customer's neighbors are doing. It is usually a gray or neutral color.
- Efficient Neighbors: This bar displays a usage value for the most efficient 20% of the customer's neighbors. It is usually colored green since green is commonly associated with energy efficiency. Note that the efficient neighbors value that appears in the module is not an average of the top 20% of neighbors. A threshold value—the 20th percentile neighbor—is used to determine the efficient neighbors value.
- Last Peak Day: The date and time of the most recent peak event. The module only displays information about the most recent peak event.
- Neighbor Definition: A brief definition of Efficient Neighbors and All Neighbors.
Post-Event Email
The post-event neighbor comparison shows how much energy the customer used during the most recent event and how the customer's usage compares to their neighbors who also participated in that event.
The following image is an example of the post-event neighbor comparison module for the summer season. During the winter season, you can use it to show neighbor comparisons oriented to winter peak days.
The following are descriptions of the post-event neighbor comparison module:
- Insight: An insight statement that explains how well the customer performed in relation to their neighbors. This statement varies slightly depending on the customer's performance.
- Date and Time of Peak Event: The date and time of the most recent peak event. If the customer has never experienced a peak event, the date and time does not appear.
- Bar Chart: The bar chart displays how much energy each group in the comparison used. Within the chart, the bar with the smallest value is on top and the bar with the largest value is at the bottom.
- You: This bar indicates how the customer performed during the peak event. This is often a color that corresponds to the utility brand color.
- All Neighbors: This bar indicates how all the customer's neighbors are doing. It is usually a gray or neutral color.
- Efficient Neighbors: This bar displays a usage value for the most efficient 20% of the customer's neighbors. It is usually colored green since green is commonly associated with energy efficiency. Note that the efficient neighbors value that appears in the module is not an average of the top 20% of neighbors. A threshold value—the 20th percentile neighbor—is used to determine the efficient neighbors value.
- Last Peak Day: The date and time of the most recent peak event. The module only displays information about the most recent peak event.
- Neighbor Definition: A brief definition of Efficient Neighbors and All Neighbors.
Gas Customers
For gas-only customers, the neighbor comparison displays information about the customer's gas usage. The module title mentions the gas fuel type, the units of measure are in gas units, and the gas unit of measure (CCF) is explained in a text field beneath the chart.
Non-AMI Gas Customers
Gas customers who do not have AMI data can still receive an email with a non-AMI experience. However, the neighbor comparison module will not be shown, since it requires AMI data. See Customer Experience Variations for more information.
Peak Events Close Together
If peak events take place close to one another (within approximately 2-3 days of each other, for example), or if an insight was not generated during the last peak event for some reason (usually due to missing data for the customer), then the customer will receive a communication with a generic placeholder graphic containing mock data. This communication will look the same as the first pre-event communication of the season.
For example, let's say a peak event is scheduled for a Monday and then another is scheduled two days later on a Wednesday. If there was not enough time to receive AMI data from the event on Monday, then the pre-event communication for Wednesday will not specify how the customer performed. Instead, a static bar chart will be shown.