Navigant Research Report Finds Utility-Consumer Relationships Are Crucial As Energy Customers Pursue Their Own Distributed Energy Resources Assets

Aggregating customer assets enables optimization at the home level
while providing added services to the grid

BOULDER, Colo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#DER–A new report from Navigant
Research explores strategies that utilities and manufacturers can
adopt to enhance the residential aggregation of distributed energy
resources (DER) and develop new customer-centric solutions.

Technology developments are causing a fast drop in the cost of
behind-the-meter electricity generation to the point where consumers
with energy resources and little variability in seasonal weather
patterns could significantly reduce their interaction with the grid. At
the same time, new solutions are emerging that link customer-sited DER
and the grid to add value for all parties—but for this to succeed,
maintaining a relationship with the end user is key. Click
to tweet: According to a new report from @NavigantRSRCH,
utility-consumer relationships are crucial as the industry transitions
from an environment where value is derived from the generation and
transmission of electricity to one where the value lies in the services
that can be provided on top of electricity sales.

“To remain competitive in an Energy Cloud future, utilities and energy
retailers need to enhance what consumers can achieve with their own DER
assets,” says Roberto Rodriguez Labastida, senior research analyst with
Navigant Research. “Aggregating those assets can help customers by
optimizing their use at the home level and bringing more value by
providing services to the grid.”

Similarly, manufacturers can enhance their hardware sales by aggregating
them to provide customer-centric solutions in addition to
product-centric ones, according to the report. To position for success,
Navigant Research recommends market players make consumer choice a
priority and be ready to disrupt the value chain with new and timely
solutions.

The report, Enhancing
Utility-Consumer Relationships through Residential DER Aggregation,
examines different strategies utilities and original equipment
manufacturers can adopt to enhance residential DER aggregation and
develop new customer-centric solutions to retain residential customers.
The study focuses on the following emerging strategies: pure
aggregators, managed DER programs, device-focused aggregation, and smart
home-focused aggregation. It also looks at case studies that show the
successful approaches and barriers encountered by energy players using
these strategies. An Executive Summary of the report is available for
free download on the Navigant
Research website.

About Navigant Research

Navigant Research, the dedicated research arm of Navigant, provides
market research and benchmarking services for rapidly changing and often
highly regulated industries. In the energy sector, Navigant Research
focuses on in-depth analysis and reporting about global clean technology
markets. The team’s research methodology combines supply-side industry
analysis, end-user primary research and demand assessment, and deep
examination of technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of the
Energy Technologies, Utility Transformations, Transportation
Efficiencies, and Buildings Innovations sectors. Additional information
about Navigant Research can be found at www.navigantresearch.com.

About Navigant

Navigant Consulting, Inc. is a specialized, global professional services
firm that helps clients take control of their future. Navigant’s
professionals apply deep industry knowledge, substantive technical
expertise, and an enterprising approach to help clients build, manage
and/or protect their business interests. With a focus on markets and
clients facing transformational change and significant regulatory or
legal pressures, the Firm primarily serves clients in the healthcare,
energy and financial services industries. Across a range of advisory,
consulting, outsourcing, and technology/analytics services, Navigant’s
practitioners bring sharp insight that pinpoints opportunities and
delivers powerful results. More information about Navigant can be found
at navigant.com.

* The information contained in this press release concerning the
report, Enhancing Utility-Consumer Relationships through Residential
DER Aggregation, is a summary and reflects Navigant Research’s
current expectations based on market data and trend analysis. Market
predictions and expectations are inherently uncertain and actual results
may differ materially from those contained in this press release or the
report. Please refer to the full report for a complete understanding of
the assumptions underlying the report’s conclusions and the
methodologies used to create the report. Neither Navigant Research nor
Navigant undertakes any obligation to update any of the information
contained in this press release or the report.

Contacts

Navigant Research
Lindsay Funicello-Paul, +1-781-270-8456
lindsay.funicello.paul@navigant.com