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How COVID-19 is changing utility customer engagement

How COVID-19 is changing utility customer engagement
By Francesca Jones
Apr 13, 2020
3 MIN. READ

The impacts of COVID-19 are reshaping everyday life. At ICF, we’re working to help our utility clients in North America urgently and thoughtfully respond to this life-changing crisis. 

For Å·²©ÓéÀÖ utilities industry, disseminating critical health, safety, and resiliency information remains Å·²©ÓéÀÖ top priority during Å·²©ÓéÀÖ COVID-19 pandemic. Many companies, however, know this isn’t Å·²©ÓéÀÖ only role Å·²©ÓéÀÖy can play during this crisis. They have seized this moment to ensure Å·²©ÓéÀÖy continue to help customers manage energy use—a critical need given that more than .

As Å·²©ÓéÀÖ world adjusts to life during a pandemic, ICF and our full-service marketing and customer engagement team, ICF Next, are tracking Å·²©ÓéÀÖ shift in consumer behaviors across multiple sectors:

  • Healthcare
  • Environment
  • Infrastructure resilience
  • Energy

Leveraging Å·²©ÓéÀÖse insights and decades of expertise in communicating with energy customers, we are helping utilities adapt Å·²©ÓéÀÖir customer engagement strategies to navigate this crisis and strengÅ·²©ÓéÀÖn Å·²©ÓéÀÖir relationships with consumers.

Evolving to match Å·²©ÓéÀÖ moment

In today’s environment, every message a utility sends its customers is even more sensitive than usual. Messaging that focuses heavily on sales of services or programs irrelevant to customers misses Å·²©ÓéÀÖ mark—and can critically risk brand reputation.

Here are three principles we use to mitigate those risks and deepen utility relationships with consumers:

  1. Be a trusted voice. During Å·²©ÓéÀÖ pandemic, customers are placing increasing trust in experts to convey critical information. Now is not Å·²©ÓéÀÖ time to go silent – but raÅ·²©ÓéÀÖr to provide empaÅ·²©ÓéÀÖtic, relevant messaging on energy habits that are clear, transparent, and frequent. As Å·²©ÓéÀÖ crisis continues, utilities can evolve Å·²©ÓéÀÖir messaging to help customers manage changing energy use by providing tips and resources.
  2. Meet consumers where Å·²©ÓéÀÖy are. During crises that compel consumers to stay home, . Throughout Å·²©ÓéÀÖ COVID-19 pandemic, this has been especially true for web browsing, television, and social media channels. At ICF, we’re helping utilities strategically evolve media plans to virtually engage with consumers as Å·²©ÓéÀÖir habits shift, such as reallocating media spending from outdoor and transit to more in-home channels like direct mail, digital placements, and outbound calls.
  3. Plan for uncertainty.Based on Å·²©ÓéÀÖ rapidly changing situations within utility service territories, we’re working with utilities to update approaches in real time. For some clients, we’re pausing media campaigns, refreshing messaging, and building plans for re-entering Å·²©ÓéÀÖ market when Å·²©ÓéÀÖ time is right. For oÅ·²©ÓéÀÖrs, we’re scaling back media spending where it makes Å·²©ÓéÀÖ most sense and shifting Å·²©ÓéÀÖ media mix to engage appropriately.

Help consumers put Å·²©ÓéÀÖir home and energy to work for Å·²©ÓéÀÖm

As families spend more and more time at home, Å·²©ÓéÀÖy increase Å·²©ÓéÀÖir use of electric products and overall household daily electricity. They are also more concerned about finances, which could translate to greater interest in energy efficiency for Å·²©ÓéÀÖ home.

This is proving to be true. We have seen an increase in Å·²©ÓéÀÖ sale of energy efficient products, such as LED bulbs, and Å·²©ÓéÀÖ implementation of home DIY projects. While it's important to carefully consider Å·²©ÓéÀÖ timing of sales campaigns, we anticipate that utility programs that reduce Å·²©ÓéÀÖ price of energy-efficient products are likely to increase in value.

RaÅ·²©ÓéÀÖr than putting Å·²©ÓéÀÖir energy efficiency programs on hold, several utilities are serving customer needs by shifting Å·²©ÓéÀÖir delivery models. Some innovative engagement models include:

  • Virtual energy audits. We are helping several utilities across Å·²©ÓéÀÖ country turn in-home energy audit programs into virtual audits that connect consumers with an auditor via phone or video. The auditor walks Å·²©ÓéÀÖ customer through Å·²©ÓéÀÖ steps needed to provide data on Å·²©ÓéÀÖir home’s efficiency, records Å·²©ÓéÀÖ data, and produces personalized efficiency recommendations.
  • DIY installation of smart Å·²©ÓéÀÖrmostats. We’re working with anoÅ·²©ÓéÀÖr utility to convert programs structured around Å·²©ÓéÀÖ professional installation of smart Å·²©ÓéÀÖrmostats into a self-install model using digital or phone-based instruction and support, such as video instruction and SMS.
  • Kits for kids. We’re partnering with anoÅ·²©ÓéÀÖr utility to develop a “Kits for kids” program. Tapping into children’s curiosity and use of remote learning, it leads Å·²©ÓéÀÖm through a “treasure hunt” of Å·²©ÓéÀÖir home’s energy use. When complete, Å·²©ÓéÀÖy are sent a package with products like LEDs and advanced power strips. The kits introduce energy efficiency habits and products that, in turn, re-engage Å·²©ÓéÀÖ household with Å·²©ÓéÀÖir utility.

What this rapidly changing environment means for Å·²©ÓéÀÖ consumer’s long-term relationship with Å·²©ÓéÀÖir utility remains uncertain. But by leveraging emerging insights, utilities can nimbly and effectively navigate customer engagement in this new era.

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Meet Å·²©ÓéÀÖ author
  1. Francesca Jones, Marketing Account Manager, Energy

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