Email Engagement AMI Customer Education Report - Business
The email Engagement Customer Education Report is the second report sent to business customers in the program. By default, it is delivered 90 days after smart meter installation. It directs the customer to utility web pages where they can view more of their energy use trends and enroll in other AMI programs and communications offered by the utility. It also includes a smart meter insight that shows customers the time of day when they use the most energy.
This image shows an example of the report:
Subject Line, Header, Introduction, and Footer
The email subject line asks whether the customers has taken advantage of their new smart meter. Additionally, the email includes the following:
Header: The header includes the utility logo and the customer account number, which might appear masked, depending on your utility's settings.
Introduction: Below the header is the Introduction module that typically reads as follows in the engagement email, "<Name>, Explore personalized smart meter insights for your business!" This statement is followed by a graphic that depicts store in a community with energy insights available to view.
Footer: The footer includes:
- The utility's contact information, which includes the address and phone number.
- Optional text statement that can include legal information, disclaimer text, or explanations about how energy use is determined.
- A manage preferences link that enables the user to access the utility's website, where they can specify whether they want to receive communications, and who they are sent to.
- An unsubscribe link, which enables customers to easily unsubscribe from the email. This link must appear due to CAN-SPAM regulations in the US, and for similar regulations in other countries.
Time of Day Use
The Time of Day Use module identifies the part of the day—morning, afternoon, evening, or night—in which the customer tends to use the most energy and expresses this as a percentage of total daily use. For example, the module may show that from 6am-12pm, a customer uses 40% of their average daily usage. The largest category of energy spending is highlighted to call attention to the customer. Components in this module include:
Header: The heading reads, "Energy use by time of day".
Time Period Details: The module displays 4 time periods (morning, afternoon, evening, and night) and identifies the amount of energy used during each period. The highest usage period is highlighted so the customer can easily identify when they typically use the most energy.
Graphic: A graphic of a business building appears at the bottom of the module. Above the building is an icon that depicts the highest-use time of day.
Ways to Save
The Ways to Save module provides business customers with two personalized tips to help them reduce energy use during their highest-use period. The tips are:
- Dynamic and relevant to a customer's unique needs
- Automatically selected and prioritized based on each customer's attributes and their highest-use period
- Continually refreshed with new information
- Designed to cover a wide variety of energy-saving categories
This module includes:
Header: The module begins with the header, "Take these actions to reduce your energy use during <highest use period>".
Tips: The module includes two tips. Each tip includes:
- A related graphic
- A heading to identify what the tip information is about. For example, "Power strips".
- Details about how you can use the tip to save energy. For example, the power strip tip text reads, "Use a power strip to turn off multiple devices at once and save time and energy."
Module Variations
This module varies, depending on which time period is considered the highest use period. Users receive 2 tips that correspond to their highest-usage time, as follows:
| High-Use Time Period | Tip 1 | Tip 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Morning |
Programmable thermostat Automatically turn off HVAC systems at closing time to reduce energy waste at night. |
Shades for temperature control During daylight hours, close your shades in the summer and open them in the winter to reduce HVAC use. |
| Afternoon |
Dimming controls Install dimming controls to turn down your lights and use more natural daylight. |
Sleep mode Set computer monitors and screens to enter sleep mode after a few minutes of inactivity. |
| Evening |
Sleep mode Set computer monitors and screens to enter sleep mode after a few minutes of inactivity. |
Light pollution prevention Save energy by correctly mounting your lights and keeping lights off after closing time. |
| Night |
Programmable thermostat Automatically turn off HVAC systems at closing time to reduce energy waste at night. |
Power strips Use a power strip to turn off multiple devices at once and save time and energy. |
Smart Meter Tips
The Smart Meter Tips module encourages customers to enroll in additional AMI-related communications and programs, such as Weekly Energy Updates. It provides up to three options, each with a short description and an optional link to sign up or learn more.
The module includes:
Header and Graphic: A header that reads, "Tap into insights powered by your smart meter" and is followed by a graphic of a smart meter.
Program Details: The module can include up to three programs or communication items. Each item contains:
- A graphic and heading text. For example, "Get weekly energy reports".
- Text that describes the program or communication. For example, "Receive weekly emails with personalized tips and highlights about your energy use – helping you save more, every week."
- An optional link to sign up for the program or to find more information about the program.
Customer Feedback
At the bottom of the email, utilities can insert the Customer Feedback module, which is part of the Oracle Utilities Energy Efficiency Cloud Service product.