Martha Amram, Founder and CEO at WattzOn, discusses the challenges the smart energy market is facing:

What do you think is the most challenging issue for your company as it relates to the residential energy management market?

Actually, the market is getting much better. In the past the key challenge was consumer distraction due to the Great Recession, and lack of clarity around viable business models. Both have sorted themselves out. There is a sizable early adopter market, and there is a clear set of companies aiming to grow the market. This makes it much easier for us to work with business partners.

What are the major challenges that your business must address in 2015? in 2020?

2015 is about changing promise into delivered value. There is enough going on in the market that it is time to deliver results. 2016 and beyond is all about the wild ride of scaling.

What are the major barriers impacting consumer adoption of energy related products and services?

The key barrier to adoption and use of home energy management tools are products and services that ask the consumer to change their habits to be engaged. For example, many thermostats sit on the shelf, not yet installed, because they ended up on a "To Do" list. And, a product that requires a consumer to check in, type in a code, then see and interpret data also tries to change a habit. Instead, products and services must slide into habits that exist, making an existing habit more valuable.

WattzOn has a software-only solution, cutting the two frictions mentioned above down to one.  It's a start.

What are the biggest opportunities for the smart home industry to work with the electricity industry?

There is a lot of talk about demand response. But the biggest opportunity is helping consumers achieve everyday energy efficiency that lowers everyday load. These are both challenges to the utility business model. But there is a lot of money to be made in helping a consumer reduce energy behind the meter. Utilities need to figure how they win when that happens.

What impact will smart products and smart home services have on consumer adoption of energy solutions?

Are they really different? Why not sell the consumer the package that puts smarts into energy solutions? This is 2015!

I think of the smart products and services as the consumer interface to boring products and actions like "I added more insulation." Well, the smart product lets you see that on your utility bill.

Martha Amram will be speaking on the panel “Value-added Services for Retail Energy Providers” at 8:45 AM during Smart Energy Summit in Austin, TX, February 18, 2015. Other panel speakers include representatives from Direct Energy and Reliant, an NRG Company.

For more information on Smart Energy Summit speakers, sessions, or topics, visit www.ses2015.com. Registration is still available!

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