Kate Merson, an industry veteran in market transformation, recently joined Enervee as Vice President of Utilities. After the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative (SECC) Annual Consumer Symposium, we caught up with Kate for her take on engaging consumers in the clean energy transition—and where utility programs are heading next.
Have you attended SECC’s flagship event before? What was your impression?
Kate: This was my first time. I loved the intimate format—especially compared to the larger conferences happening down the hall. It felt approachable and made it easier to network with the right people.
Did you learn anything new?
Kate: The event was very consumer-centric, which I appreciated. Much of the discussion tied to SECC’s State of the Consumer work. A few themes stood out:
- Segments behave differently. “Green Innovators” and “Tech-Savvy Protégés” are motivated by sustainability and new tech. The “Movable Middle” values choice and control. Even the “Energy Indifferent” show interest in electrification when savings are clear.
- Personalization is expected. Consumers are used to tailored digital experiences, but many utility programs still don’t leverage this at scale. Enervee’s utility marketplace does—meeting in-market shoppers with relevant guidance and checkout.
- Smart home momentum matters. Adoption of smart thermostats/speakers continues to rise; ownership of one device correlates with adopting others and enrolling in demand response—opening doors for smart plugs, lighting, and appliances.
- Renters are critical—and diverse. Renters make up a third of U.S. households. Many are affluent or in minority communities. They care about efficiency, but don’t own the property. Programs must emphasize convenience and savings at the point of purchase.
You moderated a session—tell us about it.
Kate: Our panel focused on engaging consumers in decarbonization. We covered complementary approaches to scaling participation, especially among hard-to-reach customers.
TVA: Frank Rapley shared how TVA’s deep community partnerships and grant-matching are expanding whole-home weatherization for LMI customers via the Home Uplift program—aligning many local efforts to reduce confusion and increase impact.
Oracle: Naila Ahmed discussed the evolution of home energy reports—now more personalized by segment and at massive scale.
Enervee: I was excited to present our marketplace approach as a one-stop shop that removes barriers end-to-end—clear product guidance, instant eligibility, and Eco Financing at checkout—so a large, often unplanned expense becomes an affordable monthly payment.
Any takeaways you’re acting on?
Kate: We have a responsibility to include the hardest-to-reach customers in decarbonization. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but the combination of targeted outreach, community partners, and a modern retail experience is working. I’m optimistic—and energized—to scale what we know works.