An information based energy efficiency approach

I saw this article in the NYTimes highlighting a "new" approach California is using to help spur efficient energy use. It's an approach that on your electric bill not only shows your energy usage, but also shows that of your neighbors, and also provides a comparison with some of the most efficient users.

When electric comapany approaches like rebate incentives haven't seemed to work so well, turning it into a contest seems to push our buttons - sortof a "keeping-up-with-the-Jones'" contest that we seem hard-wired to respond to.

Here's the story.

In my work with insurance we have taken a similar approach - comparing insurance agencies to other similar agencies in an attempt to show where opportunities lie, and perhaps get competitive juices flowing to make changes for the better.