The Zeal of the Convert

Fast, Free, Easy to Access Data from SVCE’s Data Hive Wins Over a Holdout

Cinnamon Energy Systems held off on using Silicon Valley Clean Energy’s Data Hive for a while. Their Director of Commercial Sales, Scott DuBois, confirmed as much. “We were slow to integrate. But all of the sudden, we saw the value.” 

Data Hive launched in April of 2020, just as Bay Area residents were waking up to the reality of their new sheltered-in-place, socially distant lives. All of the sudden, the days of ‘kitchen table’ solar sales were done. And with them, another casualty: the high quality customer interaction that had happened there, in those kitchens.

Under the leadership of their CEO, Barry Cinnamon, Cinnamon Energy Systems re-framed the Data Hive as a tool that would take busywork off their plate, allowing them to prioritize interacting with the customers. “The Data Hive saves me 4-6 hours per customer,” said DuBois with relish.  “You can text, email or use the phone to get an authorization. The flexibility is great.” 

Which is not to say that DuBois didn’t have some initial concerns. “One time, the data authorization request bounced. The user couldn’t open the data request. But that was because our team wasn’t executing properly. Also, it’s great that the customer doesn’t need their account number.”

If DuBois has his way, Cinnamon Energy Systems won’t go back to the old ways anytime soon. “We have integrated Data Hive into the qualifying questions for both inside and outside sales. We send out the data request as part of our initial appointment. In my experience, it gives me everything I need in one place.”

DuBois elaborated on one of our industry’s most basic facts: not having a bill can hold projects up. “I’d say 1 in 20 customers refuses to send you their electrical information. But the majority are open to it. The trust is great. Our customer base in some areas is older. A lot of them are in their mid 80s. I have stood next to them as they use their rotary phones to contact the utility companies. It still works, eventually! But I’m thinking ‘Oh my god, how do I collect your usage?’”
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“We have 20,000 legacy customers with solar. Their systems need updating. They need batteries. The interval data is incredibly helpful for battery projects. We also have large commercial projects in the works that will require us to go further out with data. We had one of our biggest months last month. We’re on the verge of adding more people.” 

“We’re going to be using you [Data Hive] a lot.” 

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​About Cinnamon Energy Systems
Cinnamon Energy Systems, “Silicon Valley's Premier Solar & Battery Storage Installer” has been designing and installing commercial and residential solar and battery storage systems for over 20 years. They take pride in their relationships with customers and the quality of their systems.