Comcast, SmartThings, NRG, EnergyHub, and other Energy Executives Discuss Role of Home Energy Management and Smart Home Devices in the Internet of Things

Today at Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer, Parks Associates announced new 4Q 2015 consumer data showing 49% of U.S. broadband households intend to buy a smart home device by December 2016. The firm hosted over 300 industry executives this week at the seventh-annual energy event in Austin, with 40% of attendees from the energy provider industry.

“With this level of consumer interest in smart technologies, the topics we are tackling at Smart Energy Summit are fundamental to the growth of the energy business, where utilities, energy and service providers, and device manufacturers have the opportunity to solidify and monetize their role in the IoT,” said Stuart Sikes, President, Parks Associates. “Smart Energy Summit has expanded each year, with an increasingly diverse and energetic audience, and we have seen a dramatic shift in the topics of discussion with the emergence of the IoT and its new business opportunities for smart energy in the home.”

Speakers at Smart Energy Summit discussed utility strategies to integrate smart products into energy programs, including the biggest market opportunities, and the future outlook for solar, energy storage, and demand response. Sessions also featured deep dives into segmentation of current energy consumers and their different attitudes toward privacy, intelligence in the home, and the role of energy and service providers in controlling energy resources.

William Clayton, Vice President of Customer Care Operations of Reliant, NRG, opened the event on Tuesday, February 22 with the keynote “Making Energy Easy and Engaging for Customers.” He discussed the key lessons necessary to move energy into markets where companies can innovate and differentiate, including the key reminders to “Be Proactive To Keep Customers Happy” and “Personalize [your] Offerings.”

Seth Frader-Thompson, President, EnergyHub, delivered the Tuesday afternoon keynote “Connected Thermostats: A Revolution Driving Value for Utilities and Service Providers.” He discussed the role of smart thermostats in increasing the lifetime value of customers and the growth in ARPU among BYOT programs. Parks Associates research finds 40% of all thermostats sold today are Internet-connected and 46% of owners acquired their smart thermostat from the retail channel.

Paul Campbell, VP Innovation / Head of Silicon Valley Innovation Center, Schneider Electric, will deliver today’s keynote “Getting Paid to Save Energy...Finally” at 9:45 a.m.

Dennis Mathew, Vice President, Xfinity Home, Comcast Cable, who will participate in the “Role of Energy Management in Smart Home Solutions” session at 11:30 a.m., said, "Many consumers aren’t truly informed or aware of the values and ease of energy management when it comes to a smart home ecosystem. To increase engagement in this space, the key is finding a direct path to deliver the automated energy solution at little cost or effort. Once consumers introduce a new product or service to their home, such as EcoSaver, Xfinity Home’s energy- and cost-saving tool, they have the chance to not only interact with it, but experience the benefits first hand."

Ramon Alvarez, Senior Director of Strategic Consumer Solutions, SmartThings, who will in today’s session “Integrating Comprehensive Energy Management Solutions into Smart Home Systems,” said, "There are two major challenges in the energy management market. The first is technical – not all energy-consuming devices have the capability to get connected and provide energy consumption data. The second is business-related – to provide a complete solution with a clear value proposition for consumers, we need better cross-industry collaboration between utilities, service providers, and consumer electronics companies. Smart Energy Summit is an excellent event to discuss both issues."

Smart Energy Summit sponsors are Tendril, EnergyHub, Honeywell, Powerley and DTE Energy, Affinegy, ecobee, PlanetEcosystems, WeatherBug Home, WSI, Z-Wave, Schneider Electric, State Farm, Tyco, and WattzOn.

Media and organizations supporting the event include Advanced Energy Economy, IoT Consortium, Antenna, Antenna Systems & Technology, Conference Guru, Engerati, FierceEnergy, GreenButton Alliance, HomePlug Alliance, HomeToys.com, ISE Magazine, IoT Today, Israeli Smart Energy Association (ISEA), KNXtoday, Mercom Capital Group, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Open Interconnect Consortium, OpenADR Alliance, Remote Site & Equipment Management magazine, SmartGridNews, SmartGridSpain, Smart Grid Today, TD The Market Publishers, TREIA, Utility Dive, Utility Post, and WSN Buzz.

360 View: Residential Security & Smart Home examines the transition toward smart home and interactive services by U.S. households and the growth of both professional and self-monitored solutions by type of system and device. For more information, contact info@parksassociates.com or visit www.parksassociates.com.

Information about the Smart Energy Summit can be found at http://www.ses2016.com. Press passes, which include event materials, are available at http://www.parksassociates.com/ses-presspass. To speak with an analyst or request specific research data, please contact Holly Sprague, 720-987-6614.

About Smart Energy Summit

Parks Associates’ 15th annual Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer is co-located with DISTRIBUTECH 2024 on February 27-28 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.  Smart Energy Summit addresses energy and renewables technology trends in the residential and small-to-medium business markets.

Industry players join expert panels and networking sessions to address the expansion and monetization of energy management and other energy-focused offerings through consumer engagement, new business models, unique partnerships, and innovative technologies.

The conference also features 2024 virtual sessions January 23, July 23, and October 10. Follow the event on Twitter/X at @SmartEnergySmt and #SmartEnergy24. For information on speaking, sponsoring, or attending Smart Energy Summit, visit www.smartenergysmt.com.