Connexus Energy has announced the first full-year results of its residential energy efficiency program. The program, which features OPOWER’s Home Energy Reports, delivered a 2.1 percent reduction in electrical energy consumption and close to $1 million in annual savings for Connexus customers. The independently measured and verified results are consistent with similar OPOWER deployments in more than 20 states, and reinforce the company’s impact across a wide range of climates and demographic segments, including political affiliations. In contrast to some of the company’s initial deployments, the Connexus program was run in a largely conservative district. Connexus, the largest customer-owned utility in Minnesota, is the first utility in the state to offer such a program.
“The OPOWER energy efficiency program has been a bona fide success in helping our customers save money on their bills, and helping Connexus meet its state-mandated energy conservation goals,” said Bruce Sayler, manager of regulatory affairs and conservation at Connexus. “Our customers have given us great feedback on the Home Energy Reports and it’s clear that they’re using them to make smarter decisions about their energy consumption.”
The effectiveness of OPOWER’s Home Energy Reports at Connexus was independently assessed by Power System Engineering, Inc. (PSE). PSE’s comprehensive analysis incorporated monthly billing data, program specific characteristics, customer demographics and climate data over a three-year period. The study concluded robust and tangible energy savings for the program at 2.1 percent for the first year.
