Connected Home Bundle Field Study
Project Number ET18PGE8191 Organization PG&E End-use HVAC, Lighting, Plug Load Sector Residential Project Year(s) 2018 - 2020The goals of the Field Study were to explore the technical and experience components of Connected Home products with a dual focus on assessing customers’ experience and energy impacts. Survey instruments were designed to meet most of the customer experience analysis objectives. In addition, an analysis of device data allowed insight into how customers were interacting with their devices and an interview with the implementer's staff explored technical issues and lessons learned.
- Specific goals included:
- Learn how customers install their product bundles, identify challenges, and suggest improvements.
- Set up platforms that allow all EMTs to react to a DR event as a bundle, identify challenges, and suggest improvements.
- Observe how customers use (or want to use) their bundles and potential energy impacts.
- Assess overall customer satisfaction with the bundles and their willingness to participate in similar programs in the future.
While the Field Study faced numerous challenges, it also demonstrated many successes, not the least of which is a wealth of lessons learned and areas for improvement. In addition, the Study validated the technical DR capability along with feasibility of achieving real DR impacts. With very few connected home studies completed in the industry, the information contributed by this Field Study about what works and what needs improvement is valuable for future program designs and implementations.