Community Microgrid Attitudes & Governance Preferences Survey

Welcome! This brief survey (about 10 minutes) asks for your views on community energy options. There are no right or wrong answers — we are interested in your honest opinions. Your responses are confidential and will be reported only in aggregate to inform local energy planning. Participation is voluntary, and you may skip any question or stop at any time.

How familiar are you with the idea of "microgrids"?

• Very familiar
• Somewhat familiar
• Heard the term, not sure what it means
• Not at all familiar

If your community proposed building a microgrid within the next 3 years, how much would you support or oppose it?

Which ownership or management model would you most prefer for a community microgrid?

• City or public agency ownership
• Electric utility ownership
• Community cooperative
• Private company under regulation
• Public–private partnership
• Not sure

If a community microgrid were offered locally, how would you prefer to participate? Select up to three.

• Join as a subscriber or customer
• Host rooftop solar and/or a battery if eligible
• Allow use of smart thermostat/appliances for demand response
• Share my energy data for planning (with privacy safeguards)
• Attend community meetings or advisory group
• Prefer not to participate
• Other (please specify)

We'd like to understand your views on community energy in a bit more depth. An AI interviewer will ask you a couple of follow-up questions based on your earlier answers.

What is your age group?

• 18–24
• 25–34
• 35–44
• 45–54
• 55–64
• 65+
• Prefer not to say

Thank you for participating! Your input will help inform local energy planning and community engagement on microgrids. Results will be shared in aggregate with community stakeholders.

For this survey, a microgrid is a local energy network with its own power sources (such as solar panels) and storage (such as batteries). It can operate with the main electric grid or independently during outages to keep power on for a neighborhood, campus, or critical facilities.

How likely would you be to recommend a community microgrid project to your neighbors?

How much do you trust your local electric utility to operate a community microgrid effectively?

Please rank the following priorities for a community microgrid from most to least important.

1. Reliability during outages
2. Affordability for households
3. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
4. Fair and inclusive access
5. Local decision-making
6. Speed of deployment

Based on your responses in this survey, is there anything else local officials should consider about microgrids in your area?

How do you describe your gender?

• Woman
• Man
• Non-binary
• Prefer to self-describe
• Prefer not to say

What concerns, if any, would you have about a local microgrid? Select all that apply.

• Higher utility bills
• Equity or fairness across neighborhoods
• Noise or siting impacts
• Privacy or data-sharing concerns
• Visual impact of equipment
• Distrust in the organizations running it
• Prefer other community investments
• Not enough information to decide
• No concerns
• Other (please specify)

If a microgrid provided at least 4 hours of backup power for key services during an outage, what change to your monthly electric bill would be acceptable to you?

• $0 (no increase)
• Up to $5
• $6–$10
• $11–$20
• More than $20
• Not sure

Which best describes where you live?

• Urban
• Suburban
• Small town
• Rural
• Prefer not to say

Which potential benefits of a community microgrid matter most to you? Select up to three.

• Improved reliability during outages
• Lower monthly energy bills
• Cleaner local energy
• Local decision-making and control
• Economic development and local jobs
• Resilience for critical services (e.g., water, shelters)
• None of these
• Other (please specify)

What is the highest level of education you have completed?

• Less than high school
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college or associate degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Graduate or professional degree
• Prefer not to say

What best describes your current employment status?

• Employed full time
• Employed part time
• Self-employed
• Unemployed and looking for work
• Unemployed and not looking for work
• Student
• Homemaker or caregiver
• Retired
• Unable to work
• Prefer not to say

What is your current housing situation?

• Own my home
• Rent my home
• Live with family or guardians
• Other
• Prefer not to say