44% of US internet households say they actively work to reduce energy consumption, but only 19% are aware of energy monitoring and management products

Parks Associates is hosting the 13^th annual Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer in-person February 28-March 2 at the Omni Hotel in Frisco, TX. Smart Energy Summit, sponsored by Schneider Electric, SmartThings, Rapid Response Monitoring, Zen Ecosystems, and Particle.io, focuses on the impact of direct consumer participation in energy markets and strategies to increase consumer engagement in energy management solutions.

Parks Associates’ latest consumer data from Smart Energy at Home: Renewable, Responsive, Resilient shows that while 44% of US internet households say they actively work to reduce energy consumption at home, only 19% of US internet households are aware of energy monitoring and management products offered by their electricity provider.

 “Several barriers impact adoption of energy programs and distributed energy resources, including low awareness, high upfront costs, slow return on investment, and consumer perception that renewable energy resources are unreliable or difficult to implement,” said Elizabeth Parks, President and CMO, Parks Associates. “We look forward to bringing the industry together to talk about what factors are impacting the adoption of advanced energy solutions and renewable resources and how utilities can leverage new partnerships and energy-efficient devices to incentive consumer engagement.”

Speakers will discuss new initiatives, such as Sunnova Energy International’s Sunnova Repair™ Services, which is designed to help homeowners troubleshoot, service, and repair their solar and battery storage systems, and analyze market strategies to offer insights on paths forward for the energy industry.

Keynote speakers will address the role of connected devices in the home, the impact of new renewable resources and electric vehicles on the grid, and how utility and energy players are working to drive more active participation in energy management solutions:

• Aaron Berndt, Head of Energy Industry Partnerships / Americas, Google
• James Jackson, Director - Energy and Utility Partnerships, Emerson
• Sadia Raveendran, Senior Director, Industry Solutions, AutoGrid
• Samudra Sen, VP – Vistra and TXU Solutions, TXU Energy
• Mike Wajsgras, Executive Director Innovation, Growth and Digital & Managing Director Constellation Connect, Constellation Energy

Parks Associates will feature its latest consumer and industry insights throughout the event, featuring data from its ongoing quarterly survey work of 10,000 internet households.

Smart Energy Summit will also feature virtual sessions on April 7, June 30, August 4, and November 17. 

About Smart Energy Summit

The 17th annual Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer addresses the rising demand for energy, accelerated by the growth of data centers and AI, and its impact on energy management, renewable adoption, and grid modernization. Organized by Parks Associates and co-located with DISTRIBUTECH, Smart Energy Summit brings together leaders from energy, smart home, and technology industries to explore strategies and partnerships critical to the energy transition. 

Smart Energy Summit takes place February 3-4, 2026, at the San Diego Convention Center. It will focus on integrating smart energy solutions, leveraging AI and IoT for home energy management, and tackling challenges in demand response and grid orchestration. Supported by Parks Associates’ consumer and industry research, the event provides key insights into market trends and the path forward for utilities, technology providers, and consumer brands.

Follow #SmartEnergy26 on Parks Associates’ LinkedIn. For information on speaking, sponsoring, or attending Smart Energy Summit, visit www.smartenergysmt.com.