takeCHARGE Celebrates Big Win with Small Utility Excellence Award

takeCHARGE proudly received the Small Utility Excellence Award announced at the E Source Forum 2024. This award recognizes exceptional utility initiatives that enhance customer satisfaction. E Source evaluated utilities based on innovation, creativity, initiative impact, and key metrics. takeCHARGE received this award for its Energy Savers Kit Program.

The Energy Savers Kit Program provides income-qualified customers with energy-efficient products at no cost. Through a key partnership with Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC), kits were delivered to over 3,000 NLHC units, with around 2,500 more planned for distribution. This streamlined process eliminates the need for applications, ensuring accessibility for those in need.

“Our partnership with the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation has allowed us to make a real difference for thousands of households, providing easy access to energy-saving products,” said Keith Barrett, Manager of Energy Solutions with Newfoundland Power. “This award is a testament to our commitment to creating accessible and impactful programs that help our customers save energy and reduce their costs.”

“We are very excited to continuously add unique and creative programs like the Energy Savers Kit Program for customers.” says Grant Outerbridge, Manager, Electrification and Energy Optimization with Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. “We are proud to be the recipient of this award as it shows our ongoing commitment to helping customers save energy and save money.”

Our dedication to making the Energy Savers Kit Program accessible to all customers was a key highlight in the award recognition. We added an accessibility function on our website that offers various options tailored to meet the diverse needs of our customers, ensuring an inclusive experience. To make the program easy to understand, we created an instructional video that guides customers through the application process. Each Energy Savers Kit includes a detailed booklet on installing energy-saving measures, with an audiobook version available for those who prefer or need auditory instructions. Additionally, we produced YouTube videos demonstrating the installation of specific measures, providing clear guidance for a seamless user experience.

Our Energy Savers Kit program has demonstrated impressive results, including 861 kWh savings for electrically heated home kits and 584 kWh for oil-heated home kits. Additionally, 88% of the products provided in the kits have been installed, reflecting their practicality and ease of use. Customer satisfaction is high, with 94% of recipients reporting satisfaction with the kits and 90% indicating they would recommend the program to others.