OPOWER and Connexus Announce One-Year Energy Efficiency Results

Full Year Results Validate OPOWER’s Consistent Impact Across Varying Climates and Demographic Segments

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, OPOWER and Minnesota-based utility, Connexus Energy announced the first full-year results of their residential energy efficiency program. The program, which features OPOWER’s award-winning Home Energy Reports, delivered a 2.1 percent reduction in electrical energy consumption and close to $1 million in annual savings for Connexus customers. The independently measured and verified results are consistent with similar OPOWER deployments in more than 20 states, and reinforce the company’s impact across a wide range of climates and demographic segments, including political affiliations. In contrast to some of the company’s initial deployments, the Connexus program was run in a largely conservative district. Connexus, the largest customer-owned utility in Minnesota, is the first utility in the state to offer such a program.

“Our customers have given us great feedback on the Home Energy Reports and it’s clear that they’re using them to make smarter decisions about their energy consumption.”

“The OPOWER energy efficiency program has been a bona fide success in helping our customers save money on their bills, and helping Connexus meet its state-mandated energy conservation goals,” said Bruce Sayler, Manager of Regulatory Affairs and Conservation at Connexus. “Our customers have given us great feedback on the Home Energy Reports and it’s clear that they’re using them to make smarter decisions about their energy consumption.”

The effectiveness of OPOWER’s Home Energy Reports at Connexus was independently assessed by Power System Engineering, Inc. (PSE). PSE’s comprehensive analysis incorporated monthly billing data, program specific characteristics, customer demographics and climate data over a three year period. The study concluded robust and tangible energy savings for the program at 2.1 percent for the first year.

“We’ve seen evidence that OPOWER’s program was effective in hotter parts of the country, however the program has worked remarkably well here in Minnesota where average temperatures are cooler and electrical consumption per household is a bit lower than in warmer climates,” Mr. Sayler went on to say.

OPOWER’s innovative energy efficiency program is becoming more commonplace at utilities across the country. More than 35 utilities have signed up to implement its unique approach to scaling residential energy efficiency, which combines patent-pending data analytics that evaluate customers’ energy usage patterns with cutting-edge behavioral science techniques proven to motivate action. OPOWER’s household-tailored Home Energy Reports allow customers to see how their electricity use compares to similarly-sized homes in their neighborhood, and provides personalized suggestions on how to save more energy and money.

“We’re delighted that the program has helped Connexus meet its conservation targets and deliver meaningful energy savings to its customers,” said OPOWER President, Alex Laskey. “It’s also gratifying to see this program work so consistently across all areas of the country and all walks of life, from low to high income customers, conservatives and liberals, and the young and old. It shows that energy efficiency is of interest to everyone – they just need the right tools and information to improve.”

About OPOWER

OPOWER is an industry leader in energy efficiency and Smart Grid software, providing the industry’s only all-channel customer engagement platform proven to deliver unprecedented energy efficiency gains to utility partners. Using cutting edge behavioral science and patent-pending data analytics, the OPOWER platform enables utilities to connect with their customers in a highly targeted fashion, motivating reductions in energy use, increased program participation and overall customer satisfaction. Seven of the ten largest utilities in the United States use OPOWER to significantly improve the effectiveness of their energy efficiency portfolios. For utilities with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), the OPOWER platform represents a cost-effective way to convert hourly data into measurable energy savings, delivering the value of the Smart Grid directly to the customer. Founded in 2007 and privately held, OPOWER is headquartered in Arlington, VA. For more information, please visit www.opower.com.

About Connexus Energy

Connexus Energy is the largest customer-owned utility in Minnesota providing electricity and related products and services to over 125,000 homes and businesses in portions of Anoka, Chisago, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Sherburne, and Washington counties. Additional information about Connexus Energy is available online at www.connexusenergy.com.