KUALA LUMPUR: Disruptive innovation is not disruptive, despite of what the term suggests.
It brings many benefits to the people, creating converging transformative elements in shaping the world into a more sustainable place, embracing connectivity and innovation along the way.
The energy supply industry plays a significant part in supporting this transformative trend.
Disruptive innovations in the energy supply industry comprise many novel initiatives, including those that can create and accentuate new customer experience.
A case in point is an energy efficiency project called as Home energy report (HER) developed by both Tenaga Nasional Bhd. and the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water (KeTTHA).
The pilot project was launched in mid-2015, has achieved over 13,000 megawatt hour (MWh) of electricity savings, or equivalent to 9,900 tonnes of carbon dioxide avoidance throughout its implementation.
The pilot programme has benefitted 200,000 households in the Klang Valley, Putrajaya and Melaka, and received much interest and positive feedback from the customers.
The second phase of HER was launched by TNB and KeTTHA recently during the IGEM conference.
Similar programme has been adopted and applied by foreign utilities in other countries such as PG&E and Exelon.
They use the programme as part of promoting energy efficiency to customers, meet regulatory requirements, and lower cost of electricity.
HER Phase Two runs from October this year till September next year. It was enhanced and expanded over the pilot programme with wider outreach and new functions that will create better and more engaging customer experience.
This time, all domestic customers will get to access HER widgets and tools at TNB’s customer service web portal, myTNB.com.my.
Over 450,000 selected domestic and residential customers will get added communication channels through printed HER and email HER (eHER).
Customers will get access to information on their electricity consumption. They will also get comparison result with the neighbours of similar home characteristics.
HER uses behavioural science and data analytics to achieve energy efficiency objectives.
It educates customers on energy usage and saving, so that they can make informed choices and control energy bills.
HER communicates to customers through several channels that includes personalised mailing report , email report and exclusive online tools.
Customers will also receive targeted energy efficiency tips, based on various information available including their past energy usage behaviour and type of homes they live in.
Various tips are available for customer to choose and applies in their homes, ranging from simple tips to those that require some investment. This can come in the form of tips such as to close your blinds or curtains on sunny days and improve shading for windows.
HER can also advise you to choose, for example, a washing machine that uses water and energy efficiently, through buying new appliances with better energy efficiency labels.
One of the new features available on the online widget is the Home Energy Analysis (HEA).
The HEA enquires customers to provide more information about their homes, leading to discovery of home appliances and devices that use most energy in your home, and subsequently recommends.