Today in the first keynote address to the Apogee INNOVATIONS 2009 conference in Atlanta, KEMA senior vice president Rob Wilhite reported smart grid investments are expected to increase more than five times current levels over the next two decades, according to research conducted by the global energy and utility consulting firm KEMA, Inc. KEMA represents some of the largest global AMI clients and smart grid efforts in the world.
Apogee Interactive hosts INNOVATIONS each year for utility professionals to deliver the latest industry news, online energy efficiency applications and Web-based utility customer communications initiatives. Wilhite set the stage with his analysis of the industry opportunities and barriers for full scale deployment of the smart grid, and the need for smarter messaging to consumers.
J.D. Power and Associates’ Jeff Conklin followed Wilhite in the second keynote with a look at the drivers behind the utility industry’s jump in customer satisfaction this year, according to J.D. Power’s 2009 customer satisfaction study. One of the key findings of the study was that utilities providing energy conservation information and online bill payment to consumers through their websites earned higher satisfaction scores.
via Experts Present Smart Grid Vision and Keys to Utility Customer Satisfaction at Apogee Conference.
