The final stretch of the program year can feel a little like the last mile of a marathon. You've put in the work, made progress toward your goals, and can finally see the finish line. But what happens when the numbers aren't quite where you need them to be?
For utility program managers, the final months of the year can sometimes bring a familiar mix of challenges: program participation rates that haven't met expectations, savings projections that need a boost, and deadlines that aren't getting any farther away.
The good news? A strong finish doesn't always require a major change in direction. Sometimes, the smartest move is finding a faster, more flexible way to build on the progress you've already made.
Traditional energy efficiency programs deliver tremendous value, but many require significant planning, customer coordination, and installation timelines. When year-end savings targets are approaching, launching an entirely new initiative may not be realistic. Instead, utilities can look for opportunities to complement existing programs with solutions that are easier to activate and scale.
Efficiency kits offer exactly that kind of flexibility.
By putting proven energy- and water-saving products directly into customers' hands, kits can help accelerate participation and generate measurable savings without lengthy project development cycles. But speed alone isn't the secret to success; the real opportunity comes from matching the right products, delivery methods, and customer audiences to your savings goals and service territory.
There's no one-size-fits-all approach to closing a savings gap. A program struggling with residential participation may need a different solution than one looking to increase small business savings or reach underserved communities.
That's why kits are especially valuable as a portfolio strategy. They can be tailored to different audiences, objectives, and opportunities.
Consider a few possibilities:
The common thread? Each approach makes participation easier while creating opportunities to capture savings across different customer segments.
Rather than asking which single program can make up the difference, utilities can ask a more productive question: Where can we remove participation barriers and unlock additional savings before year-end?
Of course, a promising strategy is only valuable if it can be put into action. When timelines are tight, successful kit initiatives depend on thoughtful measure selection, streamlined fulfillment, and distribution strategies that reach customers quickly.
The process starts by identifying the savings opportunity. Which measures can deliver meaningful results? Which audiences are most likely to participate? How can the program minimize the time between distribution and installation? Answering these questions helps transform kits from a collection of products into a targeted savings strategy.
And this approach isn't just theoretical. Utilities have successfully used rapid kit deployment to address savings shortfalls and create meaningful program impact.
While year-end savings may be the immediate priority, the benefits of a well-designed kit strategy can extend far beyond the current program year. For some customers, receiving a kit may be their first meaningful interaction with a utility energy efficiency program. A positive experience with simple, useful products can build awareness, establish trust, and open the door to future participation.
That initial engagement can become a pathway to home energy assessments, additional incentives, utility marketplaces, electrification opportunities, or more comprehensive efficiency upgrades. This is where the greatest strategic value emerges.
A kit isn't just a way to deliver products—it's an opportunity to start a customer relationship that continues generating value long after the initial savings are realized. Utilities that approach kits with both immediate performance and long-term engagement in mind can strengthen their current portfolios while creating momentum for the year ahead.
The final months of the program year don't have to be defined by what hasn't gone according to plan. Intead, they can be an opportunity to think creatively, respond quickly, and find new ways to connect customers with meaningful energy savings. Whether the challenge is closing a savings gap, increasing participation, or reaching customers who haven't engaged with traditional programs, targeted efficiency kits offer a practical way to keep progress moving.
Curious what a targeted kit strategy could look like for your program? We'll send you a complimentary Small Business Savings Kit so you can experience the possibilities firsthand—and explore how the same approach can support savings across your customer portfolio.