As utilities face increasing pressure to enhance grid reliability and manage operational costs, HVAC systems present a practical and scalable pathway for load flexibility. Nearly every household relies on HVAC, making it the most accessible and impactful touchpoint for demand management. Parks Associates research shows that over half of single-family homeowners express interest in advanced HVAC service concepts, highlighting a clear opportunity for utilities to drive participation, optimize grid performance, and deliver consumer value through connected HVAC solutions.

Parks Associates presents new consumer research on distributed energy adoption and attitudes toward data sharing. Learn how transparency, interoperability, and perceived value shape consumer openness—and what this means for future partnerships and business growth.

Residential solar and battery storage are reshaping how consumers interact with the grid, offering both resilience and new opportunities for load flexibility. This session dives into the critical trends shaping the market—from virtual power plants and solar-plus-storage bundling to financing innovations and evolving net metering policies. Panelists discuss how utilities, installers, and technology platforms can align to maximize customer value, grid stability, and long-term sustainability.

Parks Associates analysts present new findings on how the smart home is evolving and how energy management fits into the larger market for connected, safe, and affordable living. Consumer-technology interactions shape daily energy needs and decisions and open opportunities for utilities to align customer goals with system needs. The discussion explores behavioral shifts, automation trends, and how these dynamics create a foundation for shifting energy behaviors at home.

As energy systems grow more distributed and dynamic, consumers face complex decisions around time-of-use (TOU) pricing, DER participation, and home energy automation. Generative AI — embedded in voice assistants, home energy dashboards, and utility apps — promises to simplify this complexity by providing personalized, context-aware recommendations and autonomous optimization. This session brings together technologists, utilities, and smart home leaders to explore how generative AI, large language models, and predictive automation are transforming the way households interact with energy systems and connected devices.