Consumers worldwide are willing to become more involved with managing their energy use, according to a report by Armonk-based IBM Global Business Services.
The study, which surveyed 5,000 energy consumers in 12 countries, focused on a number of issues facing consumers, including preferences for green offerings (both energy-related and in general), future views on costs, usage and control options, sources of information on energy, and willingness to pay for new products and services.
Respondents age 18 to 34 were most eager for the types of “self-service” and automated energy management that “smart” metering and grids will bring. Having a message sent to a mobile device when power is out at the consumer”™s residence also grabbed significantly higher interest from the under-25 age group (about 30 percent were more likely than the other age groups to pay $1 a month for such a service).
The survey found that many consumers are actively seeking this information as climate change concerns, volatile energy prices and a growing awareness of technological advancement in energy leads them to learn about how much energy they are using and when they are using it. More than 90 percent of respondents indicated that they would like a smart meter and tools for managing their energy usage. More than 40 percent said they are actively seeking new ways to interact with their utility company, and up to 70 percent said they are willing to experiment with new programs and services.
