Email 4: Was Going Solar the Right Decision?

The fourth email solar customers receive is the Was Going Solar the Right Decision email. This message arrives approximately six months after a customer begins their solar program, and is triggered after Opower receives the sixth billed read in the data file.

The message provides a look at the average solar savings the customer is experiencing since starting their solar journey, showing them their average monthly bill before solar and after solar, and showing their average monthly savings. The message also provides tips on how they can become more energy efficient and further boost their savings, and enables them to access additional energy efficiency tips online.

The Was Going Solar the Right Decision email contains the following modules:

  • Solar Email Header
  • Solar 4 - Tracker
  • Solar 4 - Tracker - Save Even More (Included only when average monthly costs decrease since switching to solar.)
  • Solar 4 - Tracker - Message for Non Savers(Included only when average monthly costs stay the same or increase since switching to solar.)
  • Solar Email Footer

Solar Email Header

The email header introduces the reader to the email and displays the utility's logo and the customer's account number in the appropriate format.

Subject Line: <First Name>, congratulations on making the switch to solar

Company Logo: The utility's company logo displays at the top of the email.

Customer Account Number: The customer's account number displays below the logo in the format defined during the configuration process.

Figure 4-15 Solar Email Header


This image shows an example of the header module.

Solar 4 - Tracker Module

This module provides customers with an at-a-glance view of how much they are saving since moving to their solar program. The following are components of the Tracker module:

Heading: The heading provides positive feedback on the customer's savings since moving to solar, and reads "Congratulations, you're saving!" This statement changes dynamically based on the customer's actual spending.

Comparison Boxes: This graphic shows a comparison between the customer's average monthly electricity spending before and after going solar, and displays the average monthly savings.

Date Range: Below the graphic, the date range used to compare pre-solar and post-solar spending is displayed. The date ranges are dynamically generated based on available customer data.

Disclaimer (Not depicted): Use this disclaimer to add any additional information you need to share with the customer. By default, the disclaimer is not displayed. When displayed, the default disclaimer text reads, "These charges do not include natural gas charges; electricity charges from third-party solar suppliers; or the cost of ownership, maintenance, and insurance of solar equipment." A configurable URL can also be added to the disclaimer as needed.

Figure 4-16 Solar 4 Tracker


This image shows an example of the Solar 4 Tracker module.

Solar 4 - Tracker Save Even More Module

This module provides users with tips they can complete to become more energy efficient. This module appears in the email only if the customer is saving since moving to solar. The following are components of the Save Even More module:

Heading: The heading incites users to make the most of their program.

Statement: Below the heading, the statement reminds customers that they can still become more energy efficient, and boost their savings even more.

Today Tip: This tip includes a subheading of "Today", an image, and an Energy Efficiency tip that shows easy tasks the customer could complete now to become more energy efficient. For example, the tip might suggest customers turn of lights when they leave a room.

This Week Tip: This tip includes a subheading of "This Week", an image, and an Energy Efficiency tip that shows tasks the customer could complete this week to become more energy efficient. For example, the tip might tell customers to reprogram their thermostats to be more energy efficient.

This Season Tip: This tip includes a subheading of "This Season", an image, and an Energy Efficiency tip that shows longer-term or larger tasks the customer could complete this season to become more energy efficient. For example, the tip might tell customers to replace old appliances with more efficient appliances.

Save Even More Button: Customers can click this button to visit the utility's tip page.

Figure 4-17 Solar 4 Tracker Save Even More


This image shows an example of the Save Even More module.

Solar 4 - Tracker Message for Non-Savers Module

This module offers customers who are not saving some possible explanations about why they have not experienced any savings since moving to a solar program. This module appears in the email only if the customer is not experiencing a savings (or has no change in savings) since moving to solar. The following are components of the Message for Non-savers module:

Heading: The heading notifies customers that there might be some reasons they are not experiencing the savings they expected.

Solar Image: This image shows a house with solar panels.

Explanation Statement: The text in this module provides customers with multiple reasons that they might not be experiencing savings since switching to their solar program, which might include seasons, local weather patterns, and changes in electricity usage. The text also explains the concept of the solar rebound, and encourages customers to visit their utilities solar tips page to learn more about how they can save.

Explore Solar Tips Button: Customers can click this button to visit the utility's solar tips page.

Figure 4-18 Message for Non Savers


This image shows an example of the Message for Non Savers module.

Solar Email Footer

The email footer includes required information, such as the utility's address, and links to unsubscribe from emails and manage customer preferences. The footer also provides utilities with a space to include additional legal information, as needed.

Unsubscribe Link: This link enables customers to unsubscribe from the emails.

Utility Address: This statement includes the utility's address.

Legal Language: This statement can contain legal information, including copyright information, and any additional information the utility wants to include in the email message.

Figure 4-19 Solar Email Footer


This image shows an example of the footer.

Email 4 - User Experience Variations

This section discusses how the email can vary.

Newcomer Experience

When a customer has less than 12 months of billing data with the utility before moving to a solar program, the Solar 4 - Tracker module varies as follows:

  • The heading reads "Six months into your solar journey, here's how you're tracking."
  • The heading in comparison box 1 reads "Your average monthly electricity charges".
  • The heading in comparison box 2 reads "Your total electricity charges".
  • The data range statement includes only the dates during which the customer has been active on their solar program. For example, "Based on electricity charges from March 2024 to August 2024."

Non-Saver Experience

When a customer's spending increases or stays the same after moving to solar, the email varies as follows:

  • The Solar 4 - Tracker heading changes to indicate that the customer isn't experiencing the savings they expected.
  • The third comparison box displays the average monthly increase instead of the average monthly savings.
  • The Solar 4 - Tracker - Save Even More module is omitted, and replaced with the Solar 4 - Tracker - Message for Non-Savers module.