Abt SRBI understands the challenges of conducting quantitative and qualitative research for clients in the electric and natural gas industries. We provide custom solutions for research with business and residential customers. Abt SRBI's experience in utilities research includes customer satisfaction and loyalty, smart meters, renewables, new products and services, market segmentation and positioning, advertising tracking, national and key accounts, energy services and pricing studies. Abt SRBI uses a variety of methodologies in its energy research, including telephone, mail, on-line and in-person data collection. State-of-the-art analysis techniques are used to enhance the value of Abt SRBI's research for its clients.

Custom Research
For a bid on a custom research project, please contact Carla Jackson, Vice President of Energy Research, at (239) 278-4044 or c.jackson@srbi.com. We are always pleased to suggest creative and thoughtful approaches to your qualitative or quantitative research studies. Projects which might challenge other firms, including studies with tight timeframes or large sample sizes, are always welcome.

2012 Energy Conservation, Efficiency, and Demand Response
Abt SRBI's energy and utility research practice occasionally conducts multi-client studies on topics of interest to the industry. In 2012, we will again be conducting Residential Energy Conservation, Efficiency, and Demand Response: The Sixth Biennial Survey. First conducted in 2002, this will be the sixth biennial survey to provide comprehensive information about consumer attitudes and behavior related to energy conservation, efficiency, and demand response. The survey will include 800 interviews with consumers nationwide and proprietary service territory over-samples of 100 for each sponsor. Sponsors receive a national report with comparisons to previous waves of the study and a separate report comparing their service territory over-samples to the national benchmark for 2010. This study will again be in consultation with Research into Action, a leading energy evaluation firm.

For further information about this study or to ensure that you receive a full prospectus for the 2012 wave of this study, please contact Carla Jackson, Vice President of Energy Research, at (239) 278-4044 or c.jackson@srbi.com.

Smart Meter Surveys
Abt SRBI has customizable tools for pre- and post-installation surveys to assist utilities in preparing for smart meter installation and assessing customer satisfaction with the installation process. Our customizable pre-installation survey provides a baseline prior to the installation of smart meters, including awareness and understanding of smart meters, sources of information, perceived benefits of smart meters, concerns about smart meters, and customer demographics. The customizable post-installation survey addresses these issues, plus the installation process itself and communications about the installation.

For more information about cost-effective tools for smart meter customer research, please contact Carla Jackson, Vice President of Energy Research, at (239) 278-4044 or c.jackson@srbi.com.

Cell Phone Research with Utility Customers
Abt SRBI has included cell phones in many of its telephone research studies for a number of years. We have special protocols for contacting respondents on cell phones and the ability to integrate cell phone interviews into research designs using either list samples or dual frame random-digit dial samples. Since estimates of the wireless only population now exceed 30 percent of U.S. households, the inclusion of wireless respondents is important to ensure adequate survey coverage for many of your studies.

For a copy of our free white paper on "Risk Assessment for Utility Market Research Projects" with specific suggestions for your consideration before undertaking any new project, please contact Carla Jackson, Vice President of Energy Research, at (239) 278-4044 or c.jackson@srbi.com.

Risk Assessment for Utility Market Research Projects
We believe that it is important for energy market researchers and evaluators to conduct an informal risk assessment for each project they conduct. Since research is expensive and there are often competing research needs, such an assessment will ensure that research dollars are spent as wisely and effectively as possible.

For assistance in integrating cell phones into your energy evaluation or market research projects, please contact Carla Jackson, Vice President of Energy Research, at (239) 278-4044 or c.jackson@srbi.com. In addition, we can provide a free copy of "Wireless Telephones and Utility Market Research" (updated January 2012) upon request.

Data Collection with Energy Efficiency Program Participants and Non-participants
One of our specialties is the collection of data by telephone, mail, and online from energy-efficiency program participants and non-participants. We can design a customized research solution that will maximize response rate (particularly important in pilot programs with small numbers of participants) and ensure cost effectiveness when you are conducting process and impact evaluations with your customers. We have extensive experience in conducting research for both the residential and business segments.

For customized, cost-effective assistance with your needs to collect data from energy efficiency program participants and non-participants, please contact Carla Jackson, Vice President of Energy Research, at (239) 278-4044 or c.jackson@srbi.com.

A New Framework for Utility Customer Satisfaction Measurement
New channels that customers can use to communicate with their utilities have revolutionized transactional customer satisfaction measurement in the industry. For information on a comprehensive measurement framework to incorporate multiple customer inquiry channels with the appropriate measurement tools, please contact Carla Jackson, Vice President of Energy Research, at (239) 278-4044 or c.jackson@srbi.com.

Survey Quality
At Abt SRBI, surveys are not a commodity. Rather, each study is customized to our clients' needs from questionnaire design to CATI programming and testing to data analysis and reporting. We listen closely to our energy clients' needs to deliver custom solutions to fulfill specific research needs. With 500 CATI stations located in our five telephone centers (New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Florida, and West Virginia), we can meet even the most difficult project schedules without sacrificing research quality. We also have a corps of executive interviewers noted for its skill in reaching even the most difficult-to-interview business customer.

Energy Multi-Client Studies
Abt SRBI occasionally conducts multi-client studies for the energy industry. Past studies have explored bill payment and presentment, investor opinions of energy companies, and energy efficiency. Abt SRBI normally limits participation in these studies to ensure that sponsor input can be accommodated in the development of the research instruments. The same high quality control standards used in our custom research projects are also maintained in these multi-client projects.

Achieving Synergy
In addition to a strong background in energy research, Abt SRBI's extensive experience in the telecommunications industry represents a valuable resource for our utility clients. Abt SRBI has worked with a variety of telecommunications clients, including: NYNEX, Bell Atlantic, BellSouth, AT&T, MCI and South New England Telephone (SNET). This work has involved: assessment of consumer reaction to new products, development of market segmentation strategies for current and future services, evaluation of client image relative to competitors and measurement of advertising effectiveness.

Abt SRBI's National Center for Energy Research is led by Carla Jackson, Vice President, who has nearly 20 years of client-side experience in energy market research. To be placed on a mailing list to receive information about future Abt SRBI multi-client studies for the energy industry or for further information, please contact Carla Jackson at c.jackson@srbi.com or (239) 278-4044.