Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | 7TH - 13TH DECEMBER 2018 | 23 Operations & Assets Previous survey 22% 15% 13% 16% 16% 13% 14% 9% 10% 4% 8% 6% 4% 11% 25% 20% 19% 18% 17% 15% 12% 12% 10% 9% 8% 8% 7% 11% 16 Consistent with previous waves, the main reason for not getting a Smart Meter stem from not believing it will make a difference . Not knowing enough about smart meters and privacy concerns also see a rise this wave . 4 12% 19% 33% 19% 17% Smart/ connected home technologies Key: Extremely interested Very interested Somewhat interested Not very interested Not at all interested 11% 20% 34% 19% 15% Smart home technologies which relate to energy NET Extremely/ Very interested: NET Extremely/ Very interested: This survey 31% Previous survey 26% This survey 31% Previous survey 24% 25-34 yrs : 51% 55 yrs +: 14% 25 -34 yrs : 54% 55 yrs +: 18% 13% 21% 38% 18% 10% Low carbon/ renewable energy technologies Key: Extremely interested Very interested Somewhat interested Not very interested Not at all interested Level of interest with… NET Extremely/ Very interested: 34% 25 - 34 yrs : 50% 55 yrs +: 27% 11% 5% 4% 7% 6% 0% 80% 11% 5% 4% 5% 5% 1% 80% Solar panels Wind turbines Electric heat pump Battery storage Electric vehicle Other None of these This Survey Previous Survey Previous Survey This Survey Previous Survey This survey Previous survey This survey Previous survey This survey Previous survey This survey Previous survey This survey Previous survey Previous survey 34% 18% 11% 14% 10% 12% 5% 5% 4% 7% 2% 2% 19% 35% 21% 14% 13% 12% 10% 10% 8% 6% 5% 5% 4% 12% 34% 13% 19% 11% 11% 8% 8% 5% 9% 4% 3% 3% 8% 33% 20% 17% 13% 12% 10% 8% 8% 7% 5% 4% 3% 7% Previous survey Three waves of research into consumer attitudes to smart technology Revenue streams from traditional energy retail business models are squeezed, and suppliers are being forced to find new solutions to fill the void. One of these solutions is connected home technologies and services, taking energy companies into competition with tech giants such as Amazon and Google. As these advances plough ahead, consum- ers are also being pushed by government to be more energy efficient by adopting the smart meters being deployed by suppliers. They have been promised these will save them money and time in the long run. Are they ready to embrace smart and connected living? In November, Utility Week, in conjunction with Harris Interactive, launched the third edition of a survey to a nationally representative audience of just over 1,000 consumers to gauge their interest in smart home and smart energy technologies. This article summarises the key findings from the first three waves of research. This will be a regular iteration conducted by Utility Week and Harris Interactive. Consistent with previous surveys, the main reason for not getting a smart meter stem from not believing it will make a difference. Not knowing enough about smart meters and privacy concerns also increased. Renewable technology devices have not been widely been adopted by respondents, with 80% still stating they do not own any of these low- carbon devices. Interest in smart home technology has seen a significant increase since the last survey REASONS FOR NOT GETTING A SMART METER LEVEL OF INTEREST IN… INTEREST IN LOW-CARBON/RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES OWNERSHIP LEVELS REASONS FOR NOT HAVING SOLAR PANELS REASONS FOR NOT HAVING BATTERY STORAGE Why do you not already have the smart meter thermostat technology? Base: All who do not own a smart meter (n=696) Do you own any of the following low carbon/renewable energy technologies? Base: All who do not work in a sensitive industry (n=1028) Why do you not already have the solar panels technology? Base: All who do not own solar panels (n=913) Why do you not already have the battery storage technology? Base: All who do not own Battery Storage (n=956) How interested are you in the following? Base: All who do not work in a sensitive industry (n=1028) How interested are you in … low carbon/renewable energy technologies? Base: All who do not work in a sensitive industry (n=1028) It will not make a difference to my life I do not know enough in this area to say Privacy concerns I will never have a need for it I'm not convinced it would work well It's too expensive It's just a gimmick It is more inconvenient than what I do now It will cost me more money in the long run I am not technically advanced enough to adopt it It would make me feel less secure I was recommended not to use it I don't like to be the first to have new things Other It will cost me too much in the short term I do not know enough about this area I will never have a need for it I'm not convinced it is efficient It will not make any difference to my life It will cost me more money in the long run I am not technically advanced enough It is more inconvenient than what I have now I was recommended not to adopt it It's just a gimmick I don't like to be the first to have new things It would make me feel less secure Other It will cost me too much in the short term I do not know enough about this area I will never have a need for it I'm not convinced it is efficient It will not make any difference to my life It will cost me more money in the long run I am not technically advanced enough It is more inconvenient than what I have now I was recommended not to adopt it It's just a gimmick I don't like to be the first to have new things It would make me feel less secure Other Smart/connected home technologies Smart home technologies which relate to energy

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