{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Citizens Utility Board","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org","title":"The Facts on Energy Reports | Citizens Utility Board","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"Cgvz5CGcb8\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/ee_energyreports\/\">The Facts on Energy Reports<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/ee_energyreports\/embed\/#?secret=Cgvz5CGcb8\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;The Facts on Energy Reports&#8221; &#8212; Citizens Utility Board\" data-secret=\"Cgvz5CGcb8\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","description":"[vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;The Facts on Energy Reports&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text] [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]Illinois utility customers have contacted CUB with questions about &#8220;energy reports&#8221; they receive in the mail. These reports, which include tips on making a home more efficient, give consumers information about their home&#8217;s natural gas or electricity usage, along with statements like this: &#8220;You used 21% more natural gas than your neighbors. That cost you about $102\u00a0extra.&#8221; [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;What Is an Energy Report?&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text] Since 2007, Illinois law has required utilities to run programs aimed at helping customers lower their energy usage. Energy reports are one of many such programs. Others include refrigerator recycling, rebates for high-efficiency furnaces, and discounted light bulbs at hardware stores. Home Energy Reports\u00a0display: How much energy (natural gas or electricity) consumers have used over a set\u00a0period; How that usage (and expense) compares with\u00a0&#8220;neighbors;&#8221; A &#8220;smiley face&#8221; grading system (the smiley face is absent if it&#8217;s not a favorable\u00a0comparison); and Actions consumers can take to save energy and\u00a0money. Evaluations of such programs across the country have shown that they help consumers save energy and\u00a0money.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1475699797969{background-color: #0f4b91 !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Who Performs This Analysis?&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]Opower, an Arlington, Virginia-based software company that promotes efficiency worldwide, works with several Illinois utilities to create the\u00a0reports.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; align=&#8221;align_left&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1475699807900{background-color: #0f4b91 !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;How Are the Reports Prepared?&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]The reports use utility information about your usage, along with publicly available data about the housing and energy characteristics of the area in which you live. The report doesn&#8217;t compare you to a specific neighbor, or even necessarily to neighbors on your block, but to a random sample of about 100 homes in the general vicinity that appear to be occupied and have similar characteristics, such as size and heating\u00a0source. Utilities say research shows that for most customers a 100-home average is a good indication of typical\u00a0usage.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; align=&#8221;align_left&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1475699807900{background-color: #0f4b91 !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Are the Reports Accurate?&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]Home Energy Reports are generally accurate. But there may be inaccuracies with the data used to generate certain individual reports. For example, the publicly available square footage data for a particular home might not be correct. If you suspect there is an issue with the data used to create your report, contact the utility through the phone number or website provided on the\u00a0report.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; align=&#8221;align_left&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1475699807900{background-color: #0f4b91 !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Do Any Consumers Receive Reports that Give Positive Energy Usage Feedback?&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]Yes. Consumers who receive negative feedback are vocal about the reports, but many other homeowners receive positive feedback. The utilities use the &#8220;smiley face&#8221; approach to energy efficiency because research has shown that neighbor comparison programs are an affordable and effective way to lower consumer usage and\u00a0costs. Data show that the reports work by getting consumers to pay attention to their usage, and by educating them on how to use efficiency to save\u00a0money.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; align=&#8221;align_left&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1475699807900{background-color: #0f4b91 !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;What Results do the Reports Get?&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column_text]Opower&#8217;s efficiency programs have saved consumers worldwide hundreds of millions of dollars, according to the company&#8217;s website. Research has shown [&hellip;]","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/20140210_EnergyReportExample-1-791x1024.jpg"}