6 June 2014
The Clean Energy Solutions Center, in partnership with the International Smart Grid Action Network (ISGAN), hosted a no-cost webinar on the Entergy New Orleans (ENO) “SmartView” Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) pilot project, winner of the ISGAN’s inaugural Award of Excellence.
The SmartView pilot project, a Department of Energy Smart Grid Investment Grant award recipient, set out to determine how low-income customers in New Orleans would accept and utilize smart grid technologies to better manage their energy use and reduce their energy bills. One key success factor to customer engagement and empowerment was ENO’s integration of outside stakeholders, including regulatory and community outreach partners.
ENO evaluated customer behavior in response to a number of demand-response programs, including peak-time rebates, air-conditioning load controls, and the use of in-home display devices, with a focus on reducing low-income customers’ electricity usage and peak demand. The project integrated a number of different collaborative outreach, recruitment and educational strategies, involving numerous local nonprofit organizations, neighborhood events, targeted mailings, customer care call centers, and a variety of media campaigns.
The webinar presented the strategies and perspectives of Entergy New Orleans, the City Council of New Orleans, and a community outreach partner in their efforts to introduce AMI technology to the city, educate the participants, produce energy savings, and provide a platform for the implementation of future AMI technologies.
Panelists
Howard L. Rodgers, III, Executive Director, New Orleans Council on Aging
Presentation
Howard L. Rodgers, III MSW is the Executive Director of the New Orleans Council on Aging/Area Agency on Aging. Howard holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from Southern University in New Orleans and has a certificate as a Certified Aging Planner from Louisiana State University. Howard is a past Board Member of the National Council on Aging and the Southwest Society on Aging. Howard currently serves on the National Association of Social Workers Geriatric Committee, National Association of Social Workers Legal Defense Fund as a Trustee, Family Service of Greater New Orleans Board Member, Advisory Boards of the Sisters of the Holy Family, Lafon Nursing Home. 2010 National Council on Aging Geneva Mathiasen Award Recipient, 2011 Role Model-Young Leadership Council of Greater New Orleans. Former Board Member of PACE New Orleans, Former President of Louisiana Aging Network Association.
Toni Green-Brown, Customer Service Representative, Entergy New Orleans Inc.
Presentation
Toni Green-Brown is a Customer Service Representative for Entergy New Orleans Inc. (ENO). Toni has worked in various departments during her time at Entergy. Her most recent position gave her and her team an opportunity to leverage their community relationships to obtain grassroots support for the AMI pilot program. Toni holds an undergraduate degree in Mathematics – Secondary Education from Dillard University and has a Master of Business Administration from Loyola University in New Orleans.
.
Brandi Schmitt, Senior Analyst, Entergy Services Inc.
Presentation
Brandi Schmitt is a senior analyst with Entergy Services Inc., and she served as the Customer Service Project Manager for the Entergy New Orleans Department of Energy SmartView pilot. With over 26 years with Entergy, her professional experience includes Customer Operations Support, Process Improvement, Payment Processing, Customer Service and the Customer Contact Centers. Brandi is a graduate of Northwood University with a Bachelor of Business Management.
Victor M. Prep, Executive Consultant, Energy & Resource Consulting Group, LLC
Presentation
Mr. Prep is an Executive Consultant of Energy & Resource Consulting Group, LLC with 29 years of consulting experience in both public and privately owned electric, gas and water utilities, and in engineering related to industrial facilities. His experience includes regulatory affairs, revenue requirement analysis, smart grid demand side management programs, capital budget models for renewable energy projects, jurisdictional cost of service allocations, strategic planning, economic and marginal cost analysis, construction, start up, and performance reviews of capital expansion for project financing. Mr. Prep has participated in numerous cases before State Regulatory Commissions and the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and provided expert testimony or advice to counsel regarding cost analysis, utility system planning, pricing and purchase power agreements, and resource allocations.