Consumers Say Utilities Are More Committed to the Environment Than Ever, Escalent Names 31 Utilities as 2021 Environmental Champions on Earth Day

LIVONIA, Mich.--()--The utility industry’s commitment to the environment is stronger than ever, according to customers of the nation’s 140 largest utilities. Consumers cite significant improvements on utility support for environmental causes and dedication to clean energy, boosting the industry’s Environmental Dedication score to 688 (based upon a 1,000-point maximum scale). Each Earth Day, Escalent recognizes the highest-scoring utilities on Environmental Dedication as Environmental Champions. These and other findings are from the Cogent Syndicated 2021 Utility Trusted Brand & Customer Engagement™: Residential study.

Additional findings on desired consumer environmental support and how utilities can respond include:

  • One in five (19%) customers wants an environmentally friendly rate plan (e.g., net metering, green energy, EV, demand).
  • One in three (36%) customers says his or her utility should have a role in EV charging deployment.
  • Over half (58%) of customers are interested in solar energy powering their home.
  • Customers rank “clean environment” as the second most important cause utilities should support, following low-income family support.
  • Natural gas utilities score higher on Environmental Dedication (697) compared with electric (683) and combination electric and natural gas (691) utilities.
  • Two in three (64%) customers want their utility to invest in new technology to reduce climate impact.
  • Few (19%) are aware of their utility’s efforts to minimize the impact of its operations on the environment.

“Utilities are raising the bar on being champions of the environment as their customers learn more about climate change. But there is still a lot of work to do as the industry’s Environmental Dedication score remains one of the lowest of the 15 customer engagement factors we track in our research,” said Chris Oberle, senior vice president at Escalent. “Consumer demand for utility efforts and offerings that help protect the environment is increasing every year. Our Environmental Champion utilities are proving to customers they are up to the challenge.”

The following is a list of the 2021 Environmental Champion utilities. These 31 utilities are the best-in-class at demonstrating their dedication to the environment. Escalent congratulates them on this year’s Earth Day.

Environmental Champion Utility

Benchmark Segment

Environmental Dedication Index

Cascade Natural Gas

Natural Gas West

751

DTE Energy

Combination Midwest

747

OUC

Electric South

746

NW Natural

Natural Gas West

741

TECO Peoples Gas

Natural Gas South

740

Green Mountain Power

Electric East

734

Kentucky Utilities

Electric South

734

Washington Gas

Natural Gas East

732

CPS Energy

Combination South

731

Pepco

Electric East

731

Portland General Electric

Electric West

730

Columbia Gas – South

Natural Gas South

729

Idaho Power

Electric West

728

Piedmont Natural Gas

Natural Gas South

728

Florida Power & Light

Electric South

726

Seattle City Light

Electric West

726

SMUD

Electric West

725

PECO Energy

Combination East

724

Xcel Energy – West

Combination West

723

Elizabethtown Gas

Natural Gas East

722

RG&E

Combination East

720

Puget Sound Energy

Combination West

717

Salt River Project

Electric West

717

Peoples Gas

Natural Gas Midwest

716

Avista

Combination West

713

New Jersey Natural Gas

Natural Gas East

713

Columbia Gas of Ohio

Natural Gas Midwest

712

PSE&G

Combination East

711

Delmarva Power

Combination East

708

Toledo Edison

Electric Midwest

707

CenterPoint Energy – Midwest

Natural Gas Midwest

701

 

Index scores are based upon a 1,000-point maximum scale.

About Utility Trusted Brand & Customer Engagement™: Residential

Escalent conducted surveys among 74,224 residential electric, natural gas and combination utility customers of the 140 largest US utility companies (based on residential customer counts). The sample design uses a combination of quotas and weighting based on US census data to ensure a demographically balanced sample of each evaluated utility’s customers based on age, gender, income, race and ethnicity. Utilities within the same region and of the same type (e.g., electric-only providers) are given equal weight to balance the influence of each utility’s customers on survey results. Environmental Dedication index score is a composite based upon consumer ratings provided across five survey questions. Escalent will supply the exact wording of any survey question upon request.

About Escalent

Escalent is a top human behavior and analytics firm specializing in industries facing disruption and business transformation. As catalysts of progress for more than 40 years, we tell stories that transform data and insight into a profound understanding of what drives human beings. And we help businesses turn those drivers into actions that build brands, enhance customer experiences and inspire product innovation. Visit escalent.co to see how we are helping shape the brands that are reshaping the world.

Contacts

Sarah Keller, 734.779.6847
sarah.keller@escalent.co

Release Summary

The utility industry’s commitment to the environment is stronger than ever, according to customers of the nation’s 140 largest utilities.

Contacts

Sarah Keller, 734.779.6847
sarah.keller@escalent.co