DALLAS, TX--(Marketwired - Feb 2, 2017) - New IoT research from Parks Associates shows that 7% of U.S. broadband households own smart light bulbs. The firm notes that while smart thermostats are the most popular single energy-based smart home device (11%), smart light bulbs encourage more multiple purchases. Owners of these devices have an average number of 2.4, compared to approximately one device per smart thermostat household.

The international firm and other key industry leaders in the smart home, energy, and IoT spaces will examine strategies for utilities to leverage these smart home devices to benefit the grid and develop compelling value propositions for their customers at the eighth-annual Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer, February 20-22, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin, Texas.

"Creating a mass market for energy management is challenging, but there is a vital role for energy within the smart home," said Stuart Sikes, President, Parks Associates. "Consumers can benefit from a number of engaging products that provide cost savings, appliance monitoring, and smart lighting that can change color to set a mood in different rooms throughout the house. Speakers at Smart Energy Summit will share insights on their experiences selling IoT solutions to consumers."

"If you are looking for ways to enhance the customer experience, this is a must-attend conference -- great speakers, insightful research, and innovative ideas -- all focused on engaging energy consumers in mutually beneficial ways," said Deborah Kimberly, VP, Customer Energy Solutions, Austin Energy.

"The Smart Energy Summit is an excellent event for us to keep a finger on the pulse of how utilities are engaging consumers and how Bidgely disaggregation technology can help empower those efforts," said Leesa Lee, VP Marketing, Bidgely.

"We believe solar energy is a key component of a smart home," said Jeremy Warren, CTO of Vivint Smart Home. "Combining rooftop solar power with smart learning capabilities will help homeowners manage energy and save money, which enhances their smart home experience."

The Smart Energy Summit agenda features keynotes, presentations, and speaker panels from experts in energy management, with discussions on new technologies and consumer research. Parks Associates will also host a pre-conference research workshop, "Utilities and Consumer Engagement Strategies," on Monday, February 20, 1:00-5:00 p.m.

At the workshop, industry expert Kenneth Wacks will share his insights on interoperability (making everything work together). "For too long, interoperability has been a stated goal but in reality rarely crosses application domains. I have personally wrestled with interoperability failures because manufacturers focused on products rather than systems. This must change in order to achieve a mass market for integrated home systems."

The following speakers will participate in the Smart Energy Summit:

KEYNOTES/KEY SPEAKERS

• Kevin Butt, General Manager, Environmental, Toyota Motor North America
• Abigail Daken, ENERGY STAR Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Irene Dimitry, Vice President, Business Planning and Development, DTE Energy
• Manoj Kumar, CEO, Powerley
• Sudeep Maitra, Global Director of Strategy and Development, Centrica Connected Home
• Ann McCabe, Consultant; Former Commissioner, Illinois Commerce Commission

SPEAKERS

• Amena Ali, Chief Revenue Officer, Whisker Labs
• Siva Ayer, Head of Smart Controls, Carrier
• Scott Baker, Sr. Business Solutions Analyst, PJM
• Benjamin Brown, Senior Product Manager, Google Home Lead for Apps & Connectivity, Google
• Bryan Christiansen, Chief Operating Officer, Vivint Solar
• Amy Kight Costadone, Manager, Data Governance and Products, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E)
• Mark Cosby, Director - Business Development, Westar Energy
• Nancy Cronin, Managing Partner, ipCapital Group, Inc.
• Eric Danziger, Co-founder and Vice President, Genability
• Tanuj Deora, Chief Strategy Officer, SEPA (Smart Electric Power Alliance)
• Mauro Dresti, Senior Manager, Demonstrations & Pilots: Product Development & Division Management, Southern California Edison (SCE)
• John Floyd, Energy Efficiency & Renewables Manager, Gulf Power, a Southern Company
• Seth Frader-Thompson, President, EnergyHub, Inc.
• Jordan Frugé, Chief Marketing Officer, Sunnova
• Bruce Germano, Vice President, Enterprise development and Operations, Jasmine Universe, LLC
• Jeff Hamel, Head of North American Energy Partnerships, Nest Labs
• Brendan Hanna, Head of Technology Innovation, National Grid
• Cullen Hay, General Manager, U.S. Energy, Direct Energy
• Daniel Herscovici, SVP & GM, Xfinity Home, Comcast Cable
• Dr. Marissa Hummon, Senior Energy Scientist, Tendril
• Deborah Kimberly, VP, Customer Energy Solutions, Austin Energy
• Leesa Lee, VP Marketing, Bidgely
• Olaf Lohr, Director of Business Development, Sonnen, Inc.
• Stuart Lombard, Founder & CEO, ecobee
• Nathan Mancha, Director of Demand Response, EDF Energy Services, LLC
• Bob Marshall, CEO, Whisker Labs
• Derek Mauzy, Principal, Innovation and Competitive Intelligence, Reliant/NRG
• Matt McCaffree, Senior Director, Regulatory Strategy, Comverge, Inc.
• David Meyers, CCO, Grid4C
• Claire Miziolek, Market Strategies Program Manager, NEEP (Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships)
• Rob Munin, President and CEO, LUX Products
• Michael Murray, President, Mission:data Coalition
• Erik Norwood, CEO, Curb Inc.
• Derek Okada, Senior Manager, Policy & Planning, Southern California Edison (SCE)
• Jorge Perdomo, Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy & Development, MivaTek
• Roy Perry, VP, Alarm.com
• Gregg C. Sayre, Commissioner, New York State Public Service Commission; NYRev
• Kevin Schwain, Director of Program Strategy & Development, Xcel Energy
• Jason Sears, Senior Lead, Solar Strategy and Development, Green Mountain Energy, a NRG company
• Ingmar Sterzing, VP Power Supply and Energy Services, Pedernales Electric Cooperative
• Dr. Kenneth Wacks, President, Home, Building & Utility Systems
• Gene Wang, CEO and Co-founder, People Power
• Jeremy Warren, Chief Technology Officer, Vivint Smart Home
• Paul Wattles, Sr. Analyst, Market Design & Development, ERCOT
• Ilen Zazueta-Hall, Director of Product Management, Enphase Energy

Conference sponsors include People Power Company, Austin Energy, Bidgely, Carrier, ecobee, EnergyHub, Hampton Products International, Honeywell, Powerley, Trusource Labs, UtilityShield, The Weather Company, Whisker Labs, Xively, Grid4C, ipCapital Group, MivaTek, and State Farm.

Conference supporters include ACEEE, Advanced Energy Economy, Internet of Things Consortium, AltEnergyMag.com, Antenna, B2 Group, CIOReview, Conference Guru, Engerati, Green Button Alliance, HomeGrid Forum, Hometoys, IoT Today, ISE Magazine, Israeli Smart Energy Association, KNXtoday, LonMark International, Mission Data, NEEP, oneM2M, OpenADR Alliance, Open Connectivity Foundation, POWERGRID International, Smart Energy Journal, Smart Grid Spain, Smart Grid Today, TD The Market Publishers, TelcoProfessionals, TREIA, USNAP Alliance, Utility Dive, Utility Post, Wi-Fi Alliance, and WSNBuzz.com.

Parks Associates is accepting press pass requests for Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer at http://www.parksassociates.com/ses-presspass. More information about the Smart Energy Summit is available at www.SES2017.com. To speak with an analyst or request specific research data, contact Holly Sprague at hsprague@gmail.com or 720-987-6614.

About Smart Energy Summit
Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer examines new cross-industry opportunities in the expanding market for energy solutions, including connected devices, energy management, utility services, and home control platforms and services, as they evolve within the smart home and consumer-based Internet of Things.

Smart Energy Summit focuses particularly on the challenge of engaging consumers with energy-related solutions. Research analysts, thought leaders, and industry executives present and discuss business strategies, case studies, partnership opportunities, and consumer research that utilities, service providers, retailers, and manufacturers can use to expand and monetize their energy offerings.

The eighth-annual Smart Energy Summit will take place February 20-22, 2017, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin, Texas. The summit agenda features leaders from utilities, state and national regulators, telecom and security companies, retailers, and OEMs. Follow the event on Twitter at @SmartEnergySmt and #SmartEnergy17 and on the Smart Energy Insights Blog. For information on speaking, sponsoring, or attending Smart Energy Summit, visit www.ses2017.com.