**Evaluate this session. **
No matter which phase of its smart grid deployment, utilities must never forget to factor in the positive impacts on their customers. Whether you’re involved in development of the initial business case and the functional requirements or a fully deployed smart grid, this session will help provide current and future customer benefits for your program. Utility customer engagement is a major topic in the industry and a key smart grid driver—highly valued by state regulators and consumer advocates. In this panel discussion, each utility representative will describe existing and future smart grid programs and discuss how those programs are designed to exceed customers’ expectations. Hear how four major utilities strive to develop effective engagement approaches, ranging from highly strategic down to tactical day-to-day solutions. The focus of this session will be on lessons learned and on real life case studies.