A few years ago, the challenge for EnerNOC was finding the answers to two questions. First, how do we make things simple for customers in the electricity market, one of the most complicated, dynamic markets in the world? Second, how do we exceed customer expectations where others have tried and few have excelled?

During the past several years, EnerNOC has installed its energy management system at hundreds of customer sites and has dozens of marquee customers, whose early feedback suggests that we are getting the answers right to those first two questions.

Now, the challenge for EnerNOC is managing the backlog of customer interest in our company's technology, managed services, and ideas for the future. It is gratifying to experience this positive response from customers in the market. It also is important for us to understand what it is we are doing to get this response, so that EnerNOC continues to exceed our customers' expectations in the future.

#1: We are providing immediate financial gains for our customers. Our customers receive financial benefits for helping the grid avert outages by providing utilities and system operators with inexpensive, reliable, quick response electrical capacity that might otherwise not be available.

#2: We are making customer participation simple. We educate customers about market opportunities, enabling technologies, and appropriate risk management. We provide accurate estimates of reimbursements, payments, and forecasted electricity savings. We manage the complicated pieces of demand response participation so that our customers can concentrate on their core business activities. We provide a state-of-the-art automated response system to manage demand response events for them and our utility customers. We provide timely feedback, in real-time, to enhance our customers' participation levels, increase their ROI's, and increase the reliability of the resources that we provide to the market.

#3: We are providing our customers the platform for becoming better energy consumers. Commercial entities that are progressive in how they manage their use of electricity create a distinct competitive advantage in their markets. Lower energy bills mean lower cost of goods sold or cost of services delivered and greater profit margins; profit that can be used to outpace the competition. It is hardly surprising to us to see so many of today's best managed companies on our customer roster.

#4: We are making markets more efficient. When power is scarce at peak periods or due to unforeseen contingencies, EnerNOC's customers that reduce their electricity consumption reap a significant portion of the system benefits they create. Their participation in real-time demand response initiatives is an important first step in building the foundation of tomorrow's electricity markets. These markets will continue to behave like other markets in which customers can react to prices, innovate to reduce expenses, and optimize their operations to achieve efficiencies. More efficient markets lower the cost of electricity - as well as the cost of all goods sold - for everyone.

EnerNOC is guided by a simple principle: "Our customers keep us employed. Stay focused on their needs and always exceed their expectations." As we embark on a new year with ambitious aspirations for continued growth and innovation, one thing will remain constant: our commitment to exceed our customers' expectations will never waver.

About Tim Healy