Accenture U-Blog - Utilities Forum

The No. 1 Thing utility consumers will pay more to get

Madzunya, Samuel — Thu, 17 May 2012 09:08:00 GMT

As we discussed in our previous U-Blog consumers today are interested in receiving a wide array of products and services from their energy provider, and some of those are not even related to energy. But what exactly would your customers really pay more for, if offered? And before we go there, let ... (More)

Press “1” for energy, “2” for communications, “3” for banking …

Madzunya, Samuel — Fri, 11 May 2012 09:30:00 GMT

Whether we are shopping for experiences, products or services, the digital world and our ability to connect have given us greater information and ability to choose. As our latest study of more than 10,000 utility customers worldwide shows, “The energy landscape is increasingly defined by the value ... (More)

Notes from the IUEC … Navigating the Networked Consumer

Madzunya, Samuel — Fri, 04 May 2012 08:51:00 GMT

On average, consumers spend less than 10 minutes annually communicating with their utility and, as most of us might guess, it’s typically not a high-value interaction. At Accenture’s recent International Utilities & Energy Conference (IUEC), futurist Gerd Leonhard led a discussion, along with ... (More)

You’ve got 9 minutes…

Madzunya, Samuel — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:55:00 GMT

It’s hard to keep up with consumer needs and preferences. The latest installment in Accenture’s global research program, Actionable Insights for the New Energy Consumer, proves the point. Two years ago, when we asked consumers if they wanted to use social media to get customized advice on electric ... (More)

Four important capabilities to include with in-home displays

Madzunya, Samuel — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:22:00 GMT

It’s hard to buy just Internet or home phone or cable services anymore without getting a package, always at a “bundled discount”, of course. Various home product and service providers are also offering home energy management services and equipment (in-home displays (IHD) and/or smart thermostats) to ... (More)

Three ways consumers will meet you In the clouds (or drive you there)

Madzunya, Samuel — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 09:05:00 GMT

When it comes to cloud computing, your customers are already there—Google, Amazon and other e-tailers have changed how we buy, and cloud-computing devices—from tablets to smartphones—now outnumber personal computers in the world. Still, a 2009 Gartner survey referenced in Accenture’s point of view ... (More)

Six questions every utility executive should ask about cloud computing

Madzunya, Samuel — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 03:47:00 GMT

That’s the title of our point of view on this topic. But permit me to wax technological for a moment: remember the days of client/server and distributed computing? That trend started out as an idea, then an invention and, finally, blossomed into a full-fledged innovation, which Accenture defines a ... (More)

How new energy consumers want to talk with their utilities

Madzunya, Samuel — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:10:00 GMT

While residential consumers have typically viewed their relationship with energy providers as low-value and low-touch, this is changing. With financial services and telecommunications companies offering more and more diverse and easy to use contact options – consumers are expecting more from energ ... (More)

What’s new at Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative?

Madzunya, Samuel — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:20:00 GMT

Have you heard of the Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative (SGCC)? If not, as the name suggests this non-profit organization brings together North American consumers, advocates, utilities, and technology providers in order to collaborate and advance the adoption of the smart grid and ensure long-las ... (More)

The Power of Collaboration: Build, Buy, or Ally

Madzunya, Samuel — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:58:00 GMT

In past U-Blogs, I’ve commented that, while the utility industry is evolving in many ways, a large number of back-office and operational processes remain unchanged from a generation ago, despite how key functions like billing and customer care work today versus the past. The very fact that consume ... (More)