At the 2025 E Source Forum in Denver, utility innovators took center stage. From October 6–8, more than 500 professionals across the U.S. and Canada gathered to share strategies on customer experience, load flexibility, energy efficiency, and affordability—critical challenges amid an era of unprecedented disruption in the utility sector.
The Forum wrapped up with awards highlighting industry leaders in three categories: Customer and Employee Experience, Website Excellence, and Advertising Campaigns. The ceremony was hosted by Filomena Gogel, President of Research and Advisory at E Source, who praised the winners for putting customers at the heart of their operations.
“The utility industry is experiencing a period of unprecedented disruption—from balancing grid reliability and resilience to rising customer expectations,” said Gogel. “These awards recognize utilities setting new benchmarks in innovation, execution, and customer focus.”
Customer and Employee Experience
This category celebrated utilities that enhanced satisfaction and engagement through creative, measurable initiatives. Top winners included:
- Customer Experience: Tacoma Public Utilities
- Employee Experience: Newfoundland Power
- Small Utility Excellence: Tacoma Public Utilities
Website Excellence
E Source has evaluated utility websites for usability and effectiveness since 2002. This year’s assessment focused on findability, functionality, content quality, and visual design. CPS Energy earned top honors, demonstrating a modern approach to online engagement.
Advertising Campaigns
The Forum also spotlighted advertising campaigns that set industry benchmarks across seven categories. Winners included:
- Affordability and Equity: Enbridge Gas – Home Winterproofing Program Fall
- Brand and Sustainability: Nicor Gas – Mission: Zoo-Possible
- Energy Efficiency & Demand Response: PECO – Addressing the Elephant in the Room
- Energy Generation & Renewables: Enbridge Gas – Renewable Natural Gas Educational Video
- Mobility & EVs: Orange and Rockland Utilities – SmartCharge New York
- Safety & Outages: Georgia Power – Here for You: Hurricane Helene
- Self-Service: PSEG Long Island – EE Marketplace – In Plain Sight
The Forum itself is structured around six learning tracks: Load Flexibility and DER Strategy, Energy Efficiency and Electrification, Electric Transportation, Affordability and Equity, Customer Experience, and Marketing and Communications. Attendees gained insights from E Source researchers, industry experts, and peers to address pressing challenges in energy innovation.
E Source’s Research and Advisory practice, which serves over 350 utilities across North America, continues to provide subscription-based data and solutions in program innovation, marketing, customer experience, and energy efficiency. The 2025 awards underscore the growing importance of customer-centric strategies, digital engagement, and creative campaigns in an increasingly complex utility landscape.
