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WCAI Research Opportunity
Leveraging SmartMeter Data to Increase Customer Engagement and Reduce Energy Consumption
Sponsored by Pacific Gas & Electric
Thu, October 26, 2 - 3 PM ET
Since 2008, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has been installing millions of SmartMeters across Northern California for its residential gas and electricity customers. These meters measure and report electricity and gas use at daily, hourly, or 15 minute intervals, enabling customers to better understand their energy usage and find ways to save on their energy bills. For example, SmartMeters make it possible for PG&E to implement electricity rates that vary by time and provide customers with granular usage information that they can take action on. PG&E encourages research that will provide insight into how the SmartMeter platform might be used to engage customers, reduce energy consumption, and offer customers appealing alternative pricing schemes.
The data will include energy usage for 30,000 residential customers across Northern California over 36 months-January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2011. Prior to SmartMeter installation, customers' energy usage is available on a monthly basis, and post-installation, at daily, hourly, or 15-minute intervals. In addition to energy usage data, information will be provided about energy efficiency rebates, demand response programs, and special rate plans that were available to these customers. The data also presents a unique opportunity for those who wish to study customer relationship management (CRM) practices in a novel setting. It will combine energy usage data with traditional CRM information such as billing, outbound marketing communications, call center interactions, help ticket submissions, and sociodemographic information.
To learn more about the data and its business context, interested faculty and doctoral students can attend a live webinar on October 26, 2012 at 2 PM Eastern Standard Time. During the webinar, details of the data will be described and executives from PG&E will be available to answer your questions. The webinar will also be archived for those who cannot attend live.
After the webinar, interested researchers should submit proposals HERE by November 9, 2012 to receive access to the data. Researchers should review the proposal formatting requirements before submitting their proposal: www.wharton.upenn.edu/wcai/Proposals.cfm. Additional questions should be directed to wcai-research@wharton.upenn.edu.
A committee including representatives from the program sponsor, Anand Bodapati (UCLA), Eric Bradlow (Wharton), Pete Fader (Wharton), and Elea McDonnell Feit (WCAI) will select the teams to receive the data. Proposals will be evaluated on their potential for academic contribution and their ability to address issues of strategic importance to the program sponsor.
Register for the webinar at video.webcasts.com/events/wcai001/44066/index.jsp?adid=acad.