Selected Projects

The following projects are in addition to the wide variety of events that we manage or co-partner. For more information on our events, past present and future please Click here

ADEME / World Energy Council (2009-2010): VaasaETT is preparing a synthesis report on the topic of innovative communication/information tools from utilities and agencies, relating to smart metering/demand response. More precisely this evaluation will compare the policy implementation concerning smart metering and more generally Demand Response (DR) programmes among selected best practices spread over the world. More information

Respond 2009 (2009-2010): The world’s leading ongoing global study into Smart Metering-based Demand Response andrelated In-Home Services, with subscribers already including for instance: EDF, Duke Energy, British Gas, BC Hydro RWE Npower, SEAS-NVE, Gas Natural – Union Fenosa, and many more. More information

Utility Customer Switching Research Project (2007-2009): The world’s most comprehensive analysis of switching trends in deregulated energy market. This is an ongoing project and trend data is updated on a quarterly basis, More information

Central Research Institute of The Electric Power Industry of Japan CRIEPI (2009-2010): Commissioned to conduct extensive research and write a detailed report (together with CRIEPI) focusing on European Energy Consumer Attitudes and Company Strategies towards the Low Carbon Society.

Panasonic (2008-2010): Various major projects to directly assist Japanese headquarters in their European market strategies and implementations.

Leading Danish Utility (2009): Commissioned to find and help establish a key strategic partnership for major innovative offering. Involved identifying and negotiating with the partner, preparing the utility and traveling with the utility to meet the partner, as well as assisting in finding synergies and strategic direction for the partnership.

E-Control (Austrian energy market authority) (2008-2011): Commissioned by E-Control to develop the ‘Household Energy Price index for Europe’ which is Europe’s only comprehensive and independent monthly index for household electricity prices in the EU 15 markets. More than 200 organizations around the world already subscribe to the data, including most European energy market authorities. More information

Energy Retailers Association of Australia ERAA (2009-2010): Commissioned by the ERAA to design and run a project  in partnership with the 10 leading Australian energy retailers to gather customer switching data from Australia and compare it with the rest of the world. The project called Switchstats Australia provides the only globally comparative view of customer switching levels and trends.

UK Vendor (smart meter industry) (2009): Commissioned to design and conduct pan-european original research to identify market entry opportunities. Research involved extensive interviews and surveys as well as market analysis.

Australian Vendor (2009-2010): Commissioned to provide European market entry support.

Central Research Institute of The Electric Power Industry of Japan CRIEPI (2008): Commissioned to conduct extensive research and write a detailed report (together with CRIEPI) identifying the nature of customer choice in the Nordic energy market and learnings for the Japanese energy industry. More information

Leading Slovenian Energy Retailer (2008-2009): Commissioned to provide detailed guidance to help redesign their sales and marketing, CIS and CRM processes.

Various Leading Events 2008 Co-hosted a leading international conference/exhibition together with Synergy Events, Smart Metering Scandinavia, a 200 attendee event. Other events in which we were or will be partners in 2008 include Metering America, Metering Design Congress, USA, and Metering Russia/Baltic States and more (yet to be announced)

Leading Dutch/German Utility 2008 Provided advanced price elasticity and price margin analysis for the purpose of identifying market entry potentials in various European markets.

Leading (Fortune 50) US Assurance/Insurance Company (2007) VaasaETT managed a detailed service-development product feasibility study for a large blue chip player contemplating entering the US utilities market. The project involved identifying the market potential for the proposed product including marketing barriers and requirements for success, and potential partners within the US utilities industry. Particular attention was paid to researching and understanding the US utilities industry and the psychology of its customers. The project report, conducted to assist Corporate Business Development in their strategic decision-making, was ultimately reported to the CEO of the client organization. A variety of VaasaETT’s US-based partners cooperated to assist the client.

Capgemini (2008-2009): Assisted in various projects relating to Demand Response and Cost-to-Serve.

Cap Gemini 2007 Provided Demand Response benchmarking data and best practice case material to assist a major European Utility client in its Demand Response R&D programme.

CapGemini, 2008, 2009 Major collaboration partner in the development and writing of the CapGemini European Energy Markets Observatory, a global publication of Cap Gemini headquarters in Paris. Focus on competition, churn and pricing in European retail markets. More information

Projects managed and led by Dr Philip E Lewis which were conducted before the formation of VaasaETT

CapGemini, 2006 & 2007, Major collaboration partner in the development and writing of the CapGemini European Energy Markets Observatory (2006 & v2007), a global publication of Cap Gemini headquarters in Paris. Focus on competition, churn and pricing in European retail markets.

Leading Dutch Energy Retailer, 2006 Project director and report writer for a detailed strategic report written for a leading Dutch energy company. The report presented a balanced view on the likely costs and benefits associated with the scenario of large-scale AMR deployment within the Dutch electricity market, focusing essentially on the residential market. The report also considered the certainties, uncertainties and risks that are associated with the various (assumed) costs and benefits, and presented some solutions and scenarios that can be seen as alternatives to the AMR route. This report was used within the Dutch debate concerning the introduction of compulsory AMR in the Netherlands.

Finnish Energy Market Authority, 2006 Project director and report writer (Dr Philip E. Lewis) for a report that proposed a clear best practice definition and process for the purpose of customer switching data collection in Europe. This Universal Indicator of Customer Switching Activity was ultimately developed for ERGEG on behalf of the Finnish Energy market Authority.

Two leading European energy companies, 2005-2006 Primary consultant, assisting the clients in their strategic market entry decisions and plans. Work involved providing full market analysis, partner identification and strategic advice (concerning positioning, products, pricing, communications, customer acquisition and low cost entry models).

Peace Software / First Data, 2004-2007 Director of research analysing global customer loyalty trends in the electricity and gas industry. Compiled the world’s most comprehensive analysis of switching trends in deregulated energy market. This is an ongoing project and trend data is updated on a quarterly basis, see: www.peace.com/customer-switching

ERGEG (European Regulators Group for Electricity & Gas), 2005 Project director and report writer in 3 major reports prepared for the European Regulators Group for Electricity and Gas. The reports benchmark, describe and analyze regulations and procedures relating to Customer Protection, Customer Switching and Price Transparency throughout Europe (23 countries). The reports were conducted based on responses to a questionnaire designed and completed by members of ERGEG. These reports provided a key basis of subsequent ERGEG best practice proposals.

Two Major Benelux Energy Retailers & One Finnish Energy Retailer 2004-2006 Supervisor in a project to identify and analyze the drivers and dynamics behind customer churn, by looking in detail at the experiences of customers who have switched away from their incumbent retailers.

Finnish Ministry of Trade Industry, 2006 Directed and conducted a major project (given to Finish parliament) to analyse and assess the impact of unbundling and other law changes on the prices, customer switching and competition in the liberalised Finish electricity and gas markets.

Finnish Ministry of Trade & Industry, 2003-2004 Directed and conducted a pan Nordic (Finland, Sweden, Norway) project to evaluate the behaviour of end-user electricity prices in relation to wholesale (NordPool) prices.

Leading International Substation Automation Manufacturer, 2004-2006 (Various related projects) Director of a project that developed and implemented a global research system, including practical research tools for a key division of the client. Separate but related projects included an international branding research project, a national market evaluation research project, an international customer satisfaction survey and various other ad-hoc researches.

Shell International Petroleum Corporation, 2004 Assisted the corporation, as primary consultant, to enter one of the Nordic electricity markets. Work involved providing full market analysis, partner identification, strategic advice and detailed ‘market entry method’ consultation.

Electrabel, 2005 Directed a project to collect and analyse international competitor intelligence information.

Various subscribers, 2001 (customers included BP) Lead an international research project, conducted in five countries (Germany, Holland, Finland, Sweden and the UK) to identify the potential for green electricity uptake by industrial and commercial customers. The project, which was funded by European & US electricity companies, involved extensive market research in each of the target countries. The report received a high level of international publicity and was the subject of a European WWF press release.

Various subscribers, 2000-2001 (customers included Nokia) Designed and supervised a Finnish-Swedish market research project to evaluate the market potential for internet and mobile-based energy and banking services. The project was entirely funded by the energy, banking and mobile phone industries in Finland and Sweden.

Finnish Electricity Association (SENER), 2000-2001 Developed a Service Benchmarking system. The project involved extensive market research, the collection of international benchmark data, the development of clear industry-wide methods, and reporting to association members.

Leading International Oil Company, 2003 Directed a marketing research project to identify the potential for and barriers facing the uptake of oil heating services. The project involved extensive market research integrated with existing knowledge, and the development of clear marketing strategy suggestions.

Finnish Ministry of Trade & Industry, 2003-2004 Project Director and writer of a high profile market evaluation report which comprehensively analyzed the status and outcome of competition in the deregulated Finnish electricity market. The project involved extensive market research, industry wide interviews and thorough market analysis.

Finnish Ministry of Trade and Industry 2001-2002 Project director and co-writer for an evaluation report which evaluated the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s entire Linkki 2 energy efficiency behaviour research programme. The project involved an analysis of all projects conducted as part of the programme as well as interviews with those who had conducted the programme’s projects.