Energy research spans two very different audiences. Households decide on tariffs, meters and solar panels. However, business buyers manage contracts worth millions. Research and Metric runs energy research fieldwork for utilities, energy retailers, oil and lubricants companies and the agencies that serve them. This covers utilities market research and energy market research for both audiences.
We combine consumer reach with specialist B2B recruitment. As a result, one partner can cover both sides of the market.
Who we reach in energy research and utilities research
- Household bill payers: segmented by tariff, supplier, smart-meter use and switching behaviour.
- Solar, battery and EV charging adopters: recent installers and people considering installation, ideal for solar adoption research.
- Facility and operations managers: the people who own energy contracts at commercial sites.
- Industrial and plant experts: operators, suppliers and equipment makers in energy-intensive industries.
- Rural and off-grid households: reached face to face where phone and online access are limited.
Research methods we run for energy clients
The right method depends on the audience. For example, telephone suits busy business buyers, while face-to-face suits rural homes.
- CATI for facility managers and business energy buyers.
- Face-to-face CAPI for rural and hard-to-reach households.
- In-home interviews and focus groups on energy use, meters and new tariffs.
- Expert interviews with senior industrial decision makers under confidentiality.
- Online surveys for national household trackers.
Typical energy research projects
- Customer satisfaction and switching studies for energy retailers
- Smart meter research and energy app usage studies
- Solar adoption research, plus heat pump and EV charging adoption studies
- Business energy buyer research on contracts and procurement
- Industrial expert interviews across lubricants and equipment value chains
- Household energy and cooking fuel surveys in emerging markets
How we protect data quality
- Bill payer and decision-maker status confirmed at screening
- GPS-stamped and timed face-to-face interviews with back-checks
- Confidentiality protocols for senior industrial experts
- Interviewer briefings on energy terminology before launch
Professional standards also matter. For example, the ESOMAR international codes set out good practice on consent and confidentiality in research.
Recent energy projects
See this work in practice: expert interviews across the industrial lubricants value chain, a CATI survey of facility managers and in-home interviews with smart-meter households.
Why agencies choose Research and Metric for energy fieldwork
- Consumer and B2B energy audiences from one partner
- Face-to-face reach where online access is limited
- Confidential handling of senior industry experts
- Clean, documented data ready for your analysts
Frequently asked questions
Can you reach business energy decision makers?
Yes. We reach facility, operations and procurement managers who own energy contracts. We usually call them by telephone. We also confirm their role before the interview.
Do you run in-home research on energy use?
Yes. We recruit households by tariff, meter type or recent installations. We then arrange in-home interviews or diaries on how they use energy day to day.
Can you interview senior experts in oil, gas and lubricants?
Yes. We source senior operators, suppliers and equipment makers. We run interviews under confidentiality protocols, with transcription and translation where needed.
Do you run face-to-face surveys in rural areas?
Yes. Local interviewers with tablets run face-to-face surveys in rural districts. As a result, every project has GPS stamps, timing checks and back-checks.
