Assembling a Team
Why It Matters
Strong teams with diverse skill sets are needed to launch new programs. Silos, even in small organizations, can hinder program effectiveness. Who in your organization is passionate, collaborative, and ready to take on a new project? Consider what skills are needed to complete the utility’s goals and who can help get you there. Eventually, the utility’s beneficial electrification team will include members outside of your immediate organization and may include contractors, advocates, and policymakers.
Teams
Utility’s Internal Beneficial Electrification Team
Consider which department within the utility will be tasked with planning and deploying the beneficial electrification program. Determining who in the utility will be approving the plan will help guide the process. Designating a lead staff member within that lead department can keep a project moving forward with less confusion. Additionally, gathering together a multidisciplinary team, including the utility’s system engineers to inform this project, can help manage program expectations and viability. Including team members with marketing expertise will also be important. Subject matter expertise within electric vehicles and energy efficiency is also important.
These programs succeed most often when there are specific beneficial electrification champions with reach across the utility and who understand and embrace the opportunities – and who have the power to push through any rocky patches during the planning process. This can be the lead staffer, but often it is a higher-up that provides space and support for the lead staffer to work on the details.
If there is strong interest in pursuing electric vehicle initiatives, consider selecting internal ambassadors from the utility who can excite the public about EVs. Staff should experience the technology firsthand, as with EVs, to truly understand how to communicate its benefits. Wrapping the utility EV in program logos can also help to increase exposure in the community.
Alternatively, if the team has more interest in residential heating and cooling, the wider utility staff would benefit from learning how much heat pump technology has advanced. HVAC contractors are natural partners in this educational effort and can speak fluently as to their benefits. These local field contractors may not be on your team, but they are well informed of the utility’s housing stock and how advanced HVAC technology benefits the ratepayers.
Third-Party Roles
Implementation Contractors
Independent implementation contractors can be a great asset to a team. These contractors specialize in designing and managing utility programs are a great option for staff-constrained organizations. Hiring experienced contractors often results in cost efficiencies, better services for members, and reduced risk for co-ops. From the member perspective, these contractors are often perceived as highly able extensions of utility staff. Some examples include:
Overall program management
Data and IT management
Billing system vendors (OBF-specific)
Evaluation, Measurement and Verification