Email 5: Build Your Solar Expertise
The fifth email solar customers receive is the Build Your Solar Expertise email. This message arrives approximately nine months after a customer begins their solar program, and is triggered after Opower receives the ninth billed read in the data file.
The message provides average monthly savings information, and additional details about how seasons, weather, and temperatures can impact energy savings and production for solar customers. The message enables users to access additional online resources, such as the Digital Self Service - Energy Management Data Browser, where they can view weather data, or the utility's online tips page.
The Build Your Solar Expertise email contains these modules:
- Solar Email Header
- Solar 5 - Tracker
- Solar 5 - Weather, Season, Temp
- Solar 5 - EE Message for Everyone
- 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 4-20 Solar Email Header
Solar 5 - Tracker Module
This module provides customers with an at-a-glance view of how much they are saving since moving to their solar program.
Heading: The heading provides positive feedback on the customer's savings since moving to solar, and reads "Going solar is saving you money!" 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. If it is set to display, 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 4-21 Solar 5 Tracker
Solar 5 - Weather, Seasons, Temperature Module
This module explains to customers how seasons, temperature and weather can impact their solar production.
Heading: The module heading tells customers that this email is about seasons, temperature and weather.
Statement: This statement tells the user that seasonal changes to weather and temperature can impact a solar program.
Seasons Section: This section displays an image and discusses how seasonal changes impact the number of daylight hours and the suns angle, which can impact solar production.
Weather Section: This section displays an image and discusses how rainy days can decrease solar production, but can also help to clean dust, leaves, and pollen from solar panels, which can help increase solar production.
Temperature Section: This section displays an image and discusses how temperature can impact solar production. Depending on the locale, the statement can include temperature information in Celsius or Fahrenheit.
View Weather Statement: This statement encourages customers to view additional information about how their weather could be impacting their solar production.
View My Weather Data Button: Customers can click this button to access the Data Browser and view their weather data.
Figure 4-22 Weather, Seasons, Temperature
Solar 5 - Energy Efficiency Message for Everyone Module
This module reminds customers of additional things they can do to become more energy efficient, and provides them with access to energy saving tips.
Heading: The heading reminds customers that there is additional information that can help them become more efficient.
Energy Efficiency Image: This image shows examples of new technologies that can help customers become more energy efficient.
Explanatory Statement: This statement tells customers that there are many additional ways to become energy efficient, and help them get the most out of their solar investment.
See More Ways To Save Button: Customers can click this button to visit the utility's energy efficiency page.
Figure 4-23 Energy Efficiency for Everyone
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 4-24 Solar Email Footer
Email 5 - 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 5 - Tracker module varies as follows:
- The heading tells the customer how they are tracking, rather than congratulating them on saving.
- Comparison box 1 displays average monthly electricity charges rather than before solar data.
- Comparison box 2 displays total electricity charges rather than charges after going solar.
- Comparison box 3 is not displayed.
- The data range statement includes only the dates during which the customer has been active on their solar program.
Non-Saver Experience
For customers who are not saving since moving to solar, the Solar 5 - Tracker module varies as follows:
- The heading discusses how the customer isn't saving yet.
- Comparison box 3 displays average monthly increase rather than average monthly savings.