Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 68 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
SMART ENERGY CONSUMER COLLABORATIVE IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH A MISSION TO SERVE AS A TRUSTED SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON CONSUMER'S VIEWS OF GRID MODERNIZATION, ENERGY DELIVERY AND USAGE, AND TO HELP CONSUMERS UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS OF SMART ENERGY.
- Income
- $458,027
- Spending
- $703,932
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- 4.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 79%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 140
- Highest pay
- $131,816, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 54% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1568% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 68 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2521 of 21 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $258,282 spent. RESEARCH:IN 2024, SECC RELEASED FOUR PIECES OF RESEARCH AND ONE COMPANION WHITE PAPERS SEEKING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND SMART ENERGY CONSUMERS THEIR PERCEPTIONS, ATTITUDES AND NEEDS AND THEN LEVERAGE THIS UNDERSTANDING TO FORMULATE ACTIONS THAT UTILITIES AND OTHER ENERGY SERVICE PROVIDERS CAN TAKE TO BETTER SERVE AND ENGAGE WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS. IN ADDITION, SECC PRODUCED FOUR CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT CASE STUDIES THAT PROFILED HOW ENERGY UTILITIES IN THE U.S. ARE MAKING SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN EDUCATING AND ENGAGING THEIR CUSTOMERS ABOUT HOW TO BETTER CONTROL THEIR ENERGY USE, THE RESULTING UTILITY COSTS AND THE BENEFITS OF SHIFTING THEIR CONSUMPTION. ALL OF THESE RESOURCES WERE PUT TOGETHER BY A VOLUNTEER-BASED RESEARCH COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF MEMBERS WHO HELPED SHAPE SECC'S RESEARCH AGENDA, REVIEWED DETAILED FINDINGS AND DISCUSSED THE IMPLICATIONS AND PRESENTATION OF THOSE FINDINGS.SECC RELEASED THE MOST CURRENT VERSION OF ITS ANNUAL 2024 STATE OF THE CONSUMER REPORT, A META-ANALYSIS OF SECC'S 2023 RESEARCH AGENDA THAT PROVIDES SIX BIG-PICTURE THEMES ON THE NEEDS AND WANTS OF TODAY'S ENERGY CONSUMERS. THE REPORT T IS A META-ANALYSIS OF SECC'S CONSUMER RESEARCH FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR THAT PROVIDES A BIG-PICTURE LOOK AT THE NEEDS AND WANTS OF TODAY'S ENERGY CONSUMERS. THE REPORT BEGINS WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE KEY FINDINGS AND TAKEAWAYS FROM PREVIOUS STUDIES ON ELECTRIFICATION, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND THE SMART GRID. THE SECOND HALF OF THE REPORT SHARES THREE KEY THEMES ON ENERGY CONSUMERS THAT EMERGED FROM THIS RESEARCH. THE 2024 STATE OF THE CONSUMER REPORT IS DESIGNED TO HELP INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING UTILITIES, CONSUMER ADVOCATES, SOLUTION PROVIDERS AND REGULATORS BETTER UNDERSTAND TODAY'S CONSUMERS AND DEVELOP PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGIES THAT MEET THEIR NEEDS MORE EFFECTIVELY.SECC RELEASED ITS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND THE SMART GRID REPORT EXPLORED WHETHER CONSUMERS ARE ENGAGING WITH THE ELECTRICITY USAGE INFORMATION DELIVERED BY SMART GRID TECHNOLOGIES AND WHETHER THEY ARE GENERALLY SEEING THE BENEFITS PROMISED BY GRID MODERNIZATION. BASED ON A NATIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE SURVEY OF 1,500 CONSUMERS, THE REPORT INVESTIGATED CONSUMER SUPPORT FOR GRID, AWARENESS OF AND INTEREST IN DETAILED ELECTRICITY USAGE INFORMATION, SATISFACTION WITH AND TRUST OF THEIR ELECTRICITY PROVIDERS, AND MORE.SECC RELEASED ITS UNDERSTANDING THE SMB LANDSCAPE: NEW NEEDS AND CONCERNS REPORT EXAMINED THE ENERGY-RELATED NEEDS OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES (SMBS) ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND PROVIDES RECOMMENDED NEXT STEPS FOR CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT. BASED ON A 15-MINUTE ONLINE SURVEY OF 750 ENERGY DECISION-MAKERS AT BUSINESSES WITH FEWER THAN 500 EMPLOYEES, THE REPORT FOUND THAT 47 PERCENT OF SMBS CHARACTERIZE ELECTRICITY AS A "MODERATE" BUSINESS EXPENSE, WHILE AN ADDITIONAL 18 PERCENT SAID THAT IT IS A "LARGE" EXPENSE.SECC RELEASED ITS MODERN ENERGY MESSAGING: TRANSACTIONS TO RELATIONSHIPS REPORT FOCUSED ON GAINING CLARITY AROUND THE TYPES OF ENERGY-RELATED MESSAGES CONSUMERS ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING AND WHICH MESSAGES ARE MOST LIKELY TO MOTIVATE THEM TO ACT. BASED ON A 20-MINUTE ONLINE SURVEY OF 1,500 AMERICANS WHO MAKE HOUSEHOLD ENERGY DECISIONS, THE REPORT FOUND THAT CONSUMERS ARE MOST LIKELY TO RECALL ENERGY MESSAGES FROM THEIR ELECTRICITY PROVIDERS.SECC INTRODUCED IN THE SUMMER OF 2023, THIS RESEARCH SERIES IS DESIGNED TO QUICKLY CAPTURE AMERICANS' THOUGHTS ON TIMELY ENERGY-RELATED TOPICS VIA BRIEF, NATIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE SURVEYS. IN 2024, WE COMPLETED THREE SNAPSHOT SURVEYS: ELECTRIC VEHICLES: EXPLORING CONSUMERS' COST CONCERNS FIELDED TO A NATIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF 1,539 RESPONDENTS IN LATE MARCH, THIS SURVEY FOUND THAT 54 PERCENT OF CONSUMERS WHO DON'T CURRENTLY OWN AN EV ARE OPEN TO OWNING ONE IN THE FUTURE. HOWEVER, COSTS CONTINUE TO BE A SIGNIFICANT IMPEDIMENT TO ADOPTION, PARTICULARLY PURCHASE PRICE. COMPUTING CONSUMER INTEREST IN AI AS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) INCREASINGLY BECOMES PART OF THE ENERGY LANDSCAPE, THIS SURVEY PUBLISHED IN AUGUST SOUGHT TO UNDERSTAND HOW CONSUMERS FEEL ABOUT THIS EMERGING TECHNOLOGY AND GAUGE THEIR EXPECTATIONS FOR POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS. DON'T LEAVE US IN THE DARK: ENGAGING SPANISH-SPEAKING HOUSEHOLDS RELEASED IN OCTOBER, THIS SURVEY FOUND THAT SPANISH SPEAKERS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO STRUGGLE TO PAY THEIR ELECTRIC BILLS THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION. IN ADDITION, ABOUT A QUARTER OF SPANISH SPEAKERS SAY THEY HAVE NEVER RECEIVED MARKETING MATERIALS OR OUTREACH IN SPANISH FROM THEIR ELECTRICITY PROVIDERS.FINALLY, SECC RELEASED FOUR NEW CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT SUCCESS STORIES COVERING CONSUMERS ENERGY, NB POWER, COMED AND DUKE ENERGY FLORIDA. EACH CASE STUDY SPOTLIGHTS THEIR PILOT PROGRAMS FROM THE HEALTHIER HOMES THAT WORKS WITH A HEALTH CENTER IN FLINT, MICHIGAN THAT REFERS QUALIFIED ASTHMA PATIENTS WHO ARE LIKELY TO BENEFIT FROM IMPROVED INDOOR AIR CONDITIONS. THESE CUSTOMERS ARE THEN CONNECTED TO A CUSTOMER ADVOCATE WHO WILL BE THEIR SINGLE POINT-OF-CONTACT AS THEY CONTINUE THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND RECEIVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND NON-ENERGY WASTE REDUCTION UPGRADES.
- $91,749 spent. EDUCATION:IN 2024, SECC CONTINUED TO PRODUCE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND INCREASE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. THROUGH A VOLUNTEER-BASED EDUCATION AND OUTREACH COMMITTEE, MEMBERS WORKED TOGETHER TO IMPROVE CONSUMER AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF MODERNIZED ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS BY RECOGNIZING SMART ENERGY SUCCESS, EXPANDING AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO STAKEHOLDERS AND AMPLIFYING THE SMART ENERGY BENEFITS MESSAGE TO CONSUMERS NATIONWIDE.SECC CONTINUED A BEST PRACTICES AWARDS PROGRAM THAT IDENTIFIED LEADERSHIP FROM ENERGY PROVIDERS SHIFTING TOWARD A MORE CONSUMER-FOCUSED ENERGY ECOSYSTEM. THE FIFTH ANNUAL EDITION OF THE AWARDS IDENTIFIED SIX WINNERS HYDRO ONE, AVANGRID, PSEG LONG ISLAND, NB POWER, COMED AND DOMINION ENERGY. THEY WERE EACH RECOGNIZED AT THE 2024 CONSUMER SYMPOSIUM IN ORLANDO, FL. THE AWARDS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON REAL-LIFE EXAMPLES OF CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION SUCCESS AND HIGHLIGHTS A BLUEPRINT FOR OTHER ELECTRICITY PROVIDERS (AND THEIR INDUSTRY PARTNERS) TO FOLLOW.SECC ALSO HOSTED A SERIES OF NINE FREE PEER CONNECT WEBINARS CONCERNING TOPICS RANGING FROM 2024 BEST PRACTICES AWARDS, SMART ENERGY SNAPSHOT SURVEYS, AND UNDERSTANDING THE SMB LANDSCAPE: NEW NEEDS AND CONCERNS. EACH WEBINAR COVERED SMART ENERGY AND CONSUMER RELATED TOPICS FEATURING SPEAKERS FROM STAKEHOLDERS WITH EXPERTISE IN THAT SPECIFIC SUBJECT. ADDITIONALLY, SPEAKERS ANSWERED QUESTIONS AND ENGAGED IN DISCUSSION ABOUT EACH TOPIC. UTILIZING THE SIX THEMES FROM THE 2024 STATE OF THE CONSUMER REPORT, SECC PUBLISHED AN IN-DEPTH SECC'S BUILDING TRUST IN THE ENERGY TRANSITION WHITE PAPER WHITE PAPER THAT HIGHLIGHTS EXAMPLES INCLUDE NO-COST ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES FOR INCOME-ELIGIBLE CUSTOMERS, A HEAT PUMP REBATE PROGRAM, AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) CHARGER INSTALLATION PROGRAM, A TIME-OF-USE (TOU) RATE PILOT PROGRAM AND A ROADMAP FOR IMPROVING SERVICE RELIABILITY.IN 2024, THE EDUCATION & OUTREACH COMMITTEE CONTINUED WITH ITS FACTSHEET AND VIDEO APPROACH, PRODUCING MULTIPLE RESOURCES UNDER A COMMON THEME TO MAXIMIZE THE REACH AND USEFULNESS OF THE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR MEMBERS. THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE COMPLETED ITS "QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT HEAT PUMPS FACT SHEET", SERIES PROVIDED CONSUMERS WITH BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT HEAT PUMPS, SUCH AS HOW THEY WORK AND THE BENEFITS THAT THEY OFFER, AND HELPED PREPARE THEM TO DISCUSS HEAT PUMPS INCLUDING INCENTIVES AND TRADE ALLIES FOR INSTALLATION WITH THEIR ELECTRICITY PROVIDERS. ALONG WITH ITS "EDUCATING ON ELECTRIFICATION: HEAT PUMPS VIDEO" HELPING CONSUMERS UNDERSTAND THE BASICS OF AIR-SOURCE HEAT PUMPS, INCLUDING HOW THEY WORK, WHAT BENEFITS THEY CAN PROVIDE AND WHAT INCENTIVES MAY BE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST WITH UPFRONT COSTS.SECC CONTINUED ENHANCING MATERIALS ON ITS CONSUMER-FACING WEBSITE, WWW.WHATISSMARTENERGY.ORG. THE WEBSITE REORGANIZED FURTHER ITS ABILITY TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR CONSUMERS TO FIND RELEVANT CONTENT ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES, RENEWABLE ENERGY, THE SMART GRID AND MORE. SECC ALSO ENGAGED WITH CONSUMERS ON A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS DAILY; LARGELY THROUGH TWITTER AND FACEBOOK WITH MULTIPLE POSTINGS A DAY INCLUDING BOTH ORIGINAL CONTENT FROM THE BLOGS OR PERTINENT NEWS ARTICLES ABOUT THE SHIFTING WORLD OF ENERGY.
- $128,917 spent. COLLABORATION:DURING 2024, SECC CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN ITS UNIQUE MEMBERSHIP BASE, INCLUDING TECHNOLOGY VENDORS AND CONSULTANTS, ENERGY PROVIDERS AND AFFILIATES, AND ADDED TEN NEW MEMBERS INDICATING THE VALUE IN THE RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS PRODUCED AS WELL AS THE COLLABORATION FACILITATED. SECC PRESENTED AT 20 CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS, IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL, ACROSS THE COUNTRY. TO FURTHER THE REACH OF SECC'S RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, SECC RELEASED 38 MEDIA CENTERED PRESS RELEASES. IN ADDITION, SECC WAS FEATURED IN OVER 2 ARTICLES IN TRADE MEDIA.SECC CONTINUED TO COLLABORATE AMONG STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING ISSUING A MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER AND TWELVE ADDITIONAL PRESIDENT'S POST BLOG POSTS FROM SECC'S PRESIDENT & CEO NATHAN SHANNON ON TOPICS HOW DO AMERICANS FEEL ABOUT GRID MODERNIZATION. SECC CONTINUED A CONSISTENT SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE ON X, FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN AND YOUTUBE. THROUGHOUT 2024, SECC ALSO CONTINUED THE WEEKLY ABOVE THE FOLD, A NEWSLETTER THAT KEPT MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS ABREAST OF SMART ENERGY AND CONSUMER INDUSTRY NEWS AND TRENDS.SECC ALSO HOSTED TWO CONFERENCES IN 2024 INCLUDING THE ANNUAL CONSUMER SYMPOSIUM, THE CONSUMERS VOICE IN THE ENERGY MOVEMENT, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND A VIRTUAL, MEMBERS MEETING & FALL WORKSHOP WHERE MEMBERS FOCUSED ON DISCUSSING THE MOST PERTINENT ISSUES IN SMART ENERGY TODAY AND PLANNING FUTURE SECC INITIATIVES FOR 2025. BOTH EVENTS FEATURED A DIVERSE GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS AND MANY ENGAGING PANELS. IN SUPPORT OF SECC'S RESEARCH RELEASES, SECC PROVIDED PUBLICLY AVAILABLE RESEARCH BRIEF WEBINARS COVERING EACH STUDY INCLUDING THE 2024 STATE OF THE CONSUMER, SMART ENERGY SNAPSHOT SURVEY AND UNDERSTANDING THE SMB LANDSCAPE: NEW NEEDS AND CONCERNS. EACH WEBINAR PROVIDED TOPIC-ORIENTED EXPERTS SPEAKING TO THE FINDINGS OF RESEARCH AND ITS IMPLICATIONS AS WELL AS ACTION STEPS FOR OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE INDUSTRY. ADDITIONALLY, SPEAKERS ANSWERED QUESTIONS AND ENGAGED IN DISCUSSION ABOUT EACH TOPIC.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2011.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.