Dive Brief:

• A third-party study by Illume Advising showed the Accelerated Innovations-developed MyMeter portal alters residential customers’ behaviors to create a 1.8% to 2.8% annual energy use reduction.
• On the strength of these findings, Accelerated Innovations is planning to roll-out a commercial offering which, other studies have found, could produce behavioral changes creating 3% to 6% annual energy reductions for businesses.
• Only Opower and C3 Energy have similarly validated behavioral changes in the U.S. On the strength of these findings, the Minnesota Department of Commerce will allow utilities to count MyMeter-documented energy reductions toward the state's 1.5% per year energy reduction mandate.

Dive Insight:

MyMeter allows residential customers to see their daily energy use through a Website, set an energy-saving goal, track progress, and sign up for text or email alerts. The more they visit the site the more they are inclined to turn off lights, change to efficient bulbs, air dry laundry, use power strips, and alter their cooling and heating habits. MyMeter is used by 30 utilities in 15 states and two countries to serve 264,000 customers since 2008.

The MyMeter customer base is presently 90% residential and 10% commercial but energy reductions are easier for businesses because building energy management systems and changes like the shift to LED and sensor lighting can have bigger, more observable impacts.

Minnesota Power and Nashville Electric Service have begun commercial MyMeter programs. Xcel Energy Inc. has similar residential and business offerings through Opower.