Weekly Comparison Module

This module compares the customer's electricity costs during peak hours in the current week to their spending during peak hours in the previous week, and provides varying feedback based on how the customer's costs in the week compare to those of the previous week.

Design

This image shows an example of the Weekly Comparison module:

Figure 7-37 Weekly Comparison Module


This image shows an example of the module.

Configuration Options

For each element listed in the table, indicate the desired configuration in the Input Value column. If you do not provide an input for optional configurations, the default will be used.

Configuration Option Input Value

Bar Colors

Colors in the graph can match the utility’s color palette.

The colors in the example represent the default colors.

Required

Choose one of the following:

  • Use the default colors.
  • Work with your Delivery Team to specify other colors.

Comparison Range (Not Depicted)

The comparison range determines whether the customer's energy use for the current week falls within the "neutral" state. The neutral state, which provides the message, “You used about the same…” occurs if this week’s usage is within +/- n of the specified range. The range is configurable and can be stated as a percentage or in absolute dollars.

Default: The default values are +/- 5% for usage and +/- $1 for cost.

Required

Use the following range:

To see how this module fits into the overall user experience, see:

User Experience Variations

This section discusses the user experience variations in the Weekly Comparison module.

Customer Spent More This Week

If a customer spends more during peak hours this week, the TOU Coach Weekly Comparison module displays the following:

  • Insight Statement: You spent [$X] more on electricity during peak hours this week.
  • Insight Graphic: The module displays an exclamation point next to the insight statement.

Customer Spent About the Same This Week

If a customer spends about the same amount during peak hours this week, the TOU Coach Weekly Comparison module displays the following:

  • Insight Statement: You spent about the same on electricity during peak hours this week.
  • Insight Graphic: The module does not display a graphic next to the insight statement.

Usage Variation

If the email is designed to display usage instead of cost, the module displays the following:

  • Insight Statement: You used <XX% more/less> electricity during peak hours this week
  • Bar Labels: The labels to the left of the graph read "This week's peak usage" and "Last week's peak usage", and the labels to the right display the usage in kWh.
  • Decimal Places for kWh: When displaying usage, you can configure the module to include up to two decimal places in the kWh display. For example, 4.25 kWh.

Data Overlapping the Seasonal Transition Date

Costs cannot be calculated for this module if the seasonal transition occurs within the module look back period. The behavior of the module is impacted by whether or not the peak hours data has changed.

Peak hours have changed: If peak hours changed at the season transition, and the look-back period for a given module overlaps the season transition date, then the module fails and the individual module is not included in the TOU Rate Coach email type. The report will still be sent with the remaining modules.

Peak hours have not changed: If the customer's peak hours have not changed, one the following variations occurs:

  • If peak hours have not changed in a period that overlaps the seasonal transition, the seasonal transition module is shown in usage form.

  • If peak hours have not changed in a period that overlaps the seasonal transition, and non-peak data for other data changing modules in the report have changed during the season transition date, then all of the report modules are shown in usage form. Costs are not calculated or shown.

Rates with Off-Peak and Partial-Peak Periods Only

The module automatically evaluates whether there is an on-peak period in the current rate plan. If there is no on-peak period in the current rate plan, the module will use part-peak data to show off-peak usage.

Note:

This variation is only applicable to the Weekly Comparison module and the Peak Usage Summary module. Disaggregation and bill period modules do not support an off-peak usage variation.

Figure 7-38 Off-Peak and Partial-Peak Periods Only


This image shows an example of the module.