Description:
Market Strategies International, Inc. conducted a telephone survey of 800 New Jersey residential customers July 18th through July 27, 2008.  Respondents were primarily decision makers or shared in energy decision making for the household.  Some of the results were tracked and compared to findings of a similar survey conducted in the fall.

Objectives: 

This survey of New Jersey residential customers was designed to:

• Measure perceptions of, and interest in, current and new programs and communications designs.
• Aid in program design by measuring customer receptiveness to alternative program designs/attributes and identifying roadblocks to participation.
• Aid in communication planning by measuring customer preferences for various media, methods of communication, and value propositions.
• Understand the effectiveness - strengths and weaknesses - of New Jersey's efforts to date to increase consumer awareness, interest, and participation.
• Track some of the key perceptions measured in prior consumer surveys - conducted in 2005 and 2006 -  in order to measure changes in awareness, media/communications preferences, interest, attitudes, and behaviors relevant to energy efficiency, clean power, and the State's programs designed to promote them.
• Understand more fully consumers' multiple motivations for getting involved with energy efficiency and clean energy.

 Major Findings:

1. During the past 2 years, New Jersey consumers' interest in energy efficiency has grown.
2. Most consumers and program participants are familiar with renewable energy or clean power and find it important.
3. Very high percentages of both New Jersey consumers and NJCEP program participants feel that New Jersey should do more to encourage energy efficiency and renewable energy.
4. New Jersey consumers currently say their utilities are doing a better job in helping address household energy issues than the State or Board of Public Utilities.
5. Consumers and program participants express strong interest in participating in energy efficiency programs and receiving rebates.

Description:
Market Strategies International, Inc. conducted a total of 4 focus groups with residential customers, March 18-19, 2008. The sessions averaged approximately 110 minutes in length.  Participants were residential customers, 25+ years of age, and the energy decision maker of their household. Approximately half were current or recent participants in NJCEP programs.  There was a mix ethnicity, education level, income, age, and gender.

Objectives: 

The New Jersey Clean Energy Program's primary objectives for this research were:

• To better understand New Jersey residents' needs, awareness, attitudes, and perceptions about efficiency, renewable energy, and NJCEP programs.
• To probe their likes and dislikes with respect to current NJCEP programs and offers.
• To identify and understand key motivating factors for participating, as well as roadblocks to participation in NJCEP programs.
• To understand the decision-making process people use to determine whether to participate in energy efficiency and clean energy programs.

 Major Findings:

1. Given high energy costs, New Jersey consumers are strongly focused on saving money. Programs should highlight and document potential cost savings whenever possible.
2. While cost considerations tend to be top of mind, there are other key motivators that drive customer interest in energy efficiency and clean energy programs including environmental benefits, concerns about dependence on foreign sources of energy, opportunity to increase the value of the home, health benefits, and improving the comfort and quality of life.
3. Residential customers question whether the State's efforts to encourage energy efficiency and use of renewable energy resources are as aggressive, well-designed, and productive as they could be.