- Revision History
- Overview
- Feature Summary
-
- Digital Self Service - Energy Management
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- New Appliance Tip Guides
- Visual Design Refresh for Neighbor Comparison
- Cost Summary Insights Bar for Single Fuel Views in Data Browser
- Account Center Communications and Alerts
- Multi-Register Solar Usage in Data Browser
- Visual Design Refresh for Energy Use Overview
- Dynamic Default Views in Data Browser
- Next Best Action Configuration Expansion
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- Email Home Energy Reports
- Behavioral Load Shaping
- High Bill Alerts AMI
- Digital Self Service - Energy Management
This document will continue to evolve as existing sections change and new information is added. All updates appear in the following table:
| Date | Product | Feature | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 NOV 2020 | Created initial document. |
Oracle Utilities Opower provides a range of data-driven solutions, software products, and personalized insights to utility customers about their energy use.
This guide outlines the information you need to know about new or improved functionality in this update, and describes any tasks you might need to perform for the update. Each section includes a brief description of the feature, the steps you need to take to enable or begin using the feature, any tips or considerations that you should keep in mind, and the resources available to help you.
Column Definitions:
Features Delivered Enabled
Report = New or modified, Oracle-delivered, ready to run reports.
UI or Process-Based: Small Scale = These UI or process-based features are typically comprised of minor field, validation, or program changes. Therefore, the potential impact to users is minimal.
UI or Process-Based: Larger Scale* = These UI or process-based features have more complex designs. Therefore, the potential impact to users is higher.
Features Delivered Disabled = Action is needed BEFORE these features can be used by END USERS. These features are delivered disabled and you choose if and when to enable them. For example, a) new or expanded BI subject areas need to first be incorporated into reports, b) Integration is required to utilize new web services, or c) features must be assigned to user roles before they can be accessed.
| Ready for Use by End Users Reports plus Small Scale UI or Process-Based new features will have minimal user impact after an update. Therefore, customer acceptance testing should focus on the Larger Scale UI or Process-Based* new features. |
Action is Needed BEFORE Use by End Users Not disruptive as action is required to make these features ready to use. As you selectively choose to leverage, you set your test and roll out timing. |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feature |
Report |
UI or |
UI or |
|
||
Cost Summary Insights Bar for Single Fuel Views in Data Browser |
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Three Disaggregation Categories Module for Email Home Energy Reports |
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Digital Self Service - Energy Management
Four new appliance tip guides are provided as part of the Ways to Save feature to highlight tips for certain appliances and help customers save energy. The new guides cover specific use cases for refrigerators, ovens, laundry machines, and dishwashers.
This update improves the customer experience by providing more granular tip categories and tips targeted to the appliances that customers own.
Steps to Enable
You don't need to do anything to enable this feature.
Visual Design Refresh for Neighbor Comparison
The Neighbor Comparison was visually redesigned as part of a broader initiative to create a more cohesive experience across Digital Self Service - Energy Management, and to provide a foundation for improved utility theming support. Updates include:
- Combining the main insight and visual indicator (smiley) so that they are closer together and easier for customers to relate.
- Left-aligning the neighbor details content to create a visual anchor and simplify the responsive behavior across device.
Additional updates in Digital Self Service - Energy Management include:
- Consistent borders and titles.
- Enabling background color of the page to show through embedded widgets.
- Updates to several components to provide consistency within each feature across products.
Visual enhancements to the Neighbor Comparison improve the module's usability, mobile responsiveness, and visual consistency with other modules.
Steps to Enable
Contact your Service Delivery Manager to coordinate configuration of the module.
To contact your Service Delivery Manager:
- Log in to Inside Opower (https://inside.opower.com). This is your portal for questions and information related to your program.
- Go to the Community tab and contact the Service Delivery Manager using the information provided.
Cost Summary Insights Bar for Single Fuel Views in Data Browser
The Cost Summary Insights bar, which is displayed beneath the Energy Costs graph in Data Browser, is available for single fuel and dual fuel. Previously the insights bar was only available to dual fuel customers in the Combined view. For each fuel type available in the Energy Costs tab, a bar is displayed beneath the graph to show cost insights such as average and total costs for the selected time period. This insight bar is shown in the Year and Bill views.
Enhancements to the Data Browser provides single fuel customers with access to the Cost Summary Insights bar.
Steps to Enable
Contact your Service Delivery Manager to coordinate configuration of the module.
To contact your Service Delivery Manager:
- Log in to Inside Opower (https://inside.opower.com). This is your portal for questions and information related to your program.
- Go to the Community tab and contact the Service Delivery Manager using the information provided.
NOTE: This feature is enabled by default in newer versions of the Data Browser, but can be disabled.
Account Center Communications and Alerts
Communication preferences and recipients were combined into a single Communications and Alerts section in the Digital Self Service - Energy Management Account Center. Preferences, such as selected communications and contact details, can be filtered by recipient. Additional updates include:
- Icons to indicate contact method
- Green status label to highlight primary recipient
- Product ordering customization for the communication preferences presentation
- Ability to hide channel contact detail fields for communication channels that are not used by the utility
- Option to add a brief description for any communications or alerts product. The description can be used to provide customers with useful context and information about the program.
The enhanced Account Center streamlines the organization of information and provides more flexible customization options.
Steps to Enable
Contact your Service Delivery Manager to coordinate configuration of the module.
To contact your Service Delivery Manager:
- Log in to Inside Opower (https://inside.opower.com). This is your portal for questions and information related to your program.
- Go to the Community tab and contact the Service Delivery Manager using the information provided.
Multi-Register Solar Usage in Data Browser
The Digital Self Service - Energy Management Data Browser can display use and production data together in the same time interval to more accurately reflect how some solar customers are billed.
This update creates a more cohesive user experience and reduces potential confusion for solar customers as they explore and interact with their data.
Steps to Enable
Contact your Service Delivery Manager to coordinate configuration of the module.
To contact your Service Delivery Manager:
- Log in to Inside Opower (https://inside.opower.com). This is your portal for questions and information related to your program.
- Go to the Community tab and contact the Service Delivery Manager using the information provided.
Visual Design Refresh for Energy Use Overview
The Energy Use Overview was visually redesigned as part of a broader initiative to create a more cohesive experience across Digital Self Service - Energy Management, and to provide a foundation for improved utility theming support. The main call-to-action button was moved to the top of the widget to emphasize what action the customer should take next. Additional updates in Digital Self Service – Energy Management include:
- Consistent borders and titles
- Enabling background color of the page to show on embedded widgets
- Updates to several components to provide consistency within each feature across products
Redesign of the Energy Use Overview improves the visual consistency with other widgets and makes the module more actionable.
Steps to Enable
Contact your Service Delivery Manager to coordinate configuration of the module.
To contact your Service Delivery Manager:
- Log in to Inside Opower (https://inside.opower.com). This is your portal for questions and information related to your program.
- Go to the Community tab and contact the Service Delivery Manager using the information provided.
Dynamic Default Views in Data Browser
The Data Browser default view provides utilities with the ability to set a default chart resolution that will display to all customers when the Data Browser loads for the first time. If the default chart resolution cannot render properly, customers are automatically directed to the best available chart resolution based on their available data. This eliminates unnecessary error messages and enables customers to immediately explore their data when the Data Browser first loads.
Default Data Browser views improve the user experience by giving customers quicker access to their data.
Steps to Enable
Contact your Service Delivery Manager to coordinate configuration of the module.
To contact your Service Delivery Manager:
- Log in to Inside Opower (https://inside.opower.com). This is your portal for questions and information related to your program.
- Go to the Community tab and contact the Service Delivery Manager using the information provided.
Next Best Action Configuration Expansion
Next Best Action web banner targeting was improved to provide more flexibility for targeting for broader groups of customers for recommended actions. The improvements include support for targeting by customer type, meter type, and authenticated or unauthenticated customers. Next Best action supports banners for unauthenticated and authenticated users in instances where the utility wishes to communicate with both audiences.
Improved Next Best Action banner targeting provides customers with information applicable to their particular service type and meter type.
Steps to Enable
Contact your Service Delivery Manager to coordinate configuration of the module.
To contact your Service Delivery Manager:
- Log in to Inside Opower (https://inside.opower.com). This is your portal for questions and information related to your program.
- Go to the Community tab and contact the Service Delivery Manager using the information provided.
The following updates apply to Home Energy Reports that are delivered by email.
Three Disaggregation Categories Module for Email Home Energy Reports
The Three Disaggregation Categories module uses Opower's disaggregation capabilities to display a personalized breakdown of a customer's energy use profile in up to three separate energy use categories: heating, water heating, and appliances or refrigerators. The categories are designed to coincide with the types of energy savings programs or services that utilities frequently offer. For example, a utility can promote an energy audit or energy savings opportunity that aligns with one of the categories highlighted in the module.
This feature increases customer engagement by showing customers how much of their energy use is attributed to specific energy use categories and encouraging them to take action.
Steps to Enable
Contact your Service Delivery Manager to coordinate configuration of the module.
To contact your Service Delivery Manager:
- Log in to Inside Opower (https://inside.opower.com). This is your portal for questions and information related to your program.
- Go to the Community tab and contact the Service Delivery Manager using the information provided.
Solar Tip Targeting for Email Home Energy Report
For solar customers who have solar panels installed on their home, solar tips are available in the Email Home Energy Reports experience. Previously, solar tips were only available as part of the solar onboarding product.
This update improves the solar customer experience by ensuring that solar customers receive tip recommendations that are relevant their experience.
Steps to Enable
Contact your Service Delivery Manager to coordinate configuration of the module.
To contact your Service Delivery Manager:
- Log in to Inside Opower (https://inside.opower.com). This is your portal for questions and information related to your program.
- Go to the Community tab and contact the Service Delivery Manager using the information provided.
Behavioral Load Shaping Demand Rate Coach
Behavioral Load Shaping includes Demand Rate Coach emails for customers who are on a demand rate electric plan. This series of weekly emails includes an introduction email, a Weekly Coach email, and a Monthly Demand Report email. The emails include new demand-specific modules that educate customers about how their rate plan works and provides data-driven updates on how their demand is changing over the course of the bill period. Providing customers with weekly updates that include details such as a customer’s demand charges reduces bill shock for customers. When a customer’s bill period ends, they receive a Monthly Demand Report email that offers a deeper explanation about the demand charge they see on their bill. The experience also includes tips that inform customers how to manage their electricity use to lower their demand charge.
Demand Rate Coach emails help educate customers about how their rates work and how demand changes over the course of a bill period, enabling them to adjust their usage accordingly.
Steps to Enable
Contact your Service Delivery Manager to coordinate configuration of the module.
To contact your Service Delivery Manager:
- Log in to Inside Opower (https://inside.opower.com). This is your portal for questions and information related to your program.
- Go to the Community tab and contact the Service Delivery Manager using the information provided.
Demand Rate Insight Feature for High Bill Alerts AMI
The High Bill Alert AMI email includes an educational insight for customers who are on a demand rate electric plan. To prevent billing-related calls to the call center, the High Bill Alert email can be configured to include both the Behavioral Load Shaping High Usage Period module, as well as the new Demand 101 module. The experience also includes tips that inform customers how to manage their electricity use to lower their demand charge.
Educational insights help demand rate customers understand and manage their energy usage to reduce demand.
Steps to Enable
Contact your Service Delivery Manager to coordinate configuration of the module.
To contact your Service Delivery Manager:
- Log in to Inside Opower (https://inside.opower.com). This is your portal for questions and information related to your program.
- Go to the Community tab and contact the Service Delivery Manager using the information provided.