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Boosting behavioral change in residential electricity consumption: demand response programs and feedback
Mälardalen University, School of Sustainable Development of Society and Technology. (Effektiv distribution och användning av energi, Efficient Distribution & Consumption of Energy)
2011 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

As part of realizing national and European climate ambitions, it is imperative to bring about increased energy efficiency and consumption flexibility in the residential sector of the Swedish power market. In addition to governmental policy instruments to this end, market-based measures play an important role in making behavioral change in domestic electricity use happen. In light of the prevailing lack of incentives for residential consumers to save electricity and cut peak demand at times of physical and financial market constraints, the research studies that form the basis of this thesis have the aim of adding to the body of knowledge on policy instruments for the purpose of boosting behavioral change in residential electricity consumption. The research has accordingly contributed to the general statistics on residential electricity consumption, which constitute the starting point for policy instrument development, and augmented knowledge on the merits of residential demand response programs involving hourly settlements in power trading and demand-based, time-of-use tariffs in power distribution as well as graphic feedback on individual households’ electricity use by means of a statistics service provided over the Internet.

 

The overall results have shown that household behavior, together with physical factors such as heating systems, help explain the sizeable differences in electricity consumption among homeowners. Statistical analysis of variance has in this context proven to be an effective method for identifying key indicators of policy development. Power suppliers and electricity consumers as well as society as a whole have been found to gain substantially from hourly settlements in retail. To suppliers, the greatest benefits are associated with risk management, while the major advantage to customers is that they are provided with an opportunity to reduce their electricity costs. It has also been empirically demonstrated that electricity users are willing to adjust their consumption to a demand-based, time-varying distribution tariff. Households generally have a favorable attitude towards this type of distribution tariff, seeing as they indirectly have a positive impact on the environment. Providing households with feedback over the Internet on their individual electricity use and demand has been shown to contribute to an increased awareness and lead to energy efficiency in homes. Easy accessibility and simplicity have proven to be key success factors in this context. Combining conventional bar charts, color symbolism and historic feedback is expedient in this respect.

Abstract [sv]

Att åstadkomma ökad energieffektivisering och förbrukningsflexibilitet i den svenska elmarknadens bostadssektor är ett nödvändigt led i realiseringen av de nationella och europeiska klimatmålen. Utöver statliga styrmedel för detta ändamål spelar även marknadsbaserade åtgärder en viktig roll för att få till stånd beteendeförändringar i samband med hushålls elanvändning. Mot bakgrund av den rådande bristen på bevekelsegrunder för elkonsumenter att spara el och minska effektuttaget när marknadens fysiska och finansiella begränsningar ger sig till känna har det övergripande syftet med forskarstudierna som ligger till grund för den här avhandlingen varit att bidra till den samlade kunskapen om styrmedel som främjar beteendeförändringar i hushålls elanvändning. Forskningen har således bidragit till den generella statistiken om elanvändning i bostäder, som utgör utgångspunkten för utvecklingen av styrmedel, samt ökat kunskapen om vinsterna med timavräkning inom elhandeln, effektbaserade tidstariffer inom eldistributionen i bostadssektorn och grafisk återkoppling på enskilda hushålls elanvändning med hjälp av en statistiktjänst som tillhandahålls via Internet.

 

De övergripande resultaten har visat att hushålls beteende, jämte fysiska faktorer såsom uppvärmningssystem, bidrar till att förklara de stora skillnaderna i elkonsumtionen bland villaägare. Statistisk variansanalys har i det sammanhanget visat sig vara en ändamålsenlig metod för att identifiera viktiga indikatorer för utveckling av styrmedel. Såväl enskilda elleverantörer och elkonsumenter som samhället i stort har visat sig ha mycket att vinna på timavräkning inom elhandeln. För elhandlaren är de största fördelarna förknippade med riskhantering, medan vinsten för kunderna består i ökade möjligheter att minska sina elkostnader. Det har även empiriskt påvisats att elkonsumenter är beredda att anpassa sin förbrukning till en effektbaserad tidstariff. Hushåll har generellt en välvillig inställning till den här typen av tariffer, eftersom de indirekt har en positiv effekt på miljön. Att tillhandahålla hushåll med återkoppling avseende deras individuella elanvändning och effektuttag via Internet har visat sig bidra till en ökad medvetenhet och leda till energieffektiviseringar i bostäder. Lättillgänglighet och enkelhet har i det sammanhanget visat sig vara centrala framgångsfaktorer. Att kombinera konventionella stapeldiagram, färgsymbolik och historisk återkoppling är ändamålsenligt i det avseendet.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Västerås: Mälardalen University , 2011.
Series
Mälardalen University Press Dissertations, ISSN 1651-4238 ; 114
National Category
Energy Systems
Research subject
Energy- and Environmental Engineering
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-13214ISBN: 978-91-7485-048-2 (print)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:mdh-13214DiVA, id: diva2:452374
Public defence
2011-12-02, Kappa, Mälardalens högskola, Västerås, 10:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2011-10-31 Created: 2011-10-28 Last updated: 2011-11-18Bibliographically approved
List of papers
1. Potential of hourly settlements in the residential sector of the Swedish electricity market: Estimations of risk reduction and economic result
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Potential of hourly settlements in the residential sector of the Swedish electricity market: Estimations of risk reduction and economic result
2010 (English)In: International Journal of Green Energy, ISSN 1543-5075, E-ISSN 1543-5083, Vol. 7, no 3, p. 224-240Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Increased demand response is essential in order to boost the effectiveness of the Swedish power market. The all-embracing installation of automatic meter reading systems enables power suppliers to introduce hourly settlements in the residential sector. The aim of the study has been to assess the impact of electricity retailers’ physical and financial risk in customer segments with different heating systems as well as to estimate the potential of the electricity contract ”Fixed price with the right to return” in terms of economic consequences and risk management. The results show that households whose main heating system consists of a geothermal heat pump constitute the largest physical price and volume risk of suppliers. The gain of introducing hourly settlements in the residential electricity market has furthermore proven to be manifold from both an economic and risk reducing point of view.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Taylor & Francis, 2010
National Category
Energy Systems
Research subject
Energy- and Environmental Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-13196 (URN)10.1080/15435071003795857 (DOI)000278165500002 ()2-s2.0-77953004349 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2011-10-27 Created: 2011-10-27 Last updated: 2017-12-08Bibliographically approved
2. Exploring variance in residential electricity consumption: Household features and building properties
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Exploring variance in residential electricity consumption: Household features and building properties
2012 (English)In: Applied Energy, ISSN 0306-2619, E-ISSN 1872-9118, Vol. 92, p. 637-643Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Improved means of controlling electricity consumption plays an important part in boosting energy efficiency in the Swedish power market. Developing policy instruments to that end requires more in-depth statistics on electricity use in the residential sector, among other things. The aim of the study has accordingly been to assess the extent of variance in annual electricity consumption in single-family homes as well as to estimate the impact of household features and building properties in this respect using independent samples t-tests and one-way as well as univariate independent samples analyses of variance. Statistically significant variances associated with geographic area, heating system, number of family members, family composition, year of construction, electric water heater and electric underfloor heating have been established. The overall result of the analyses is nevertheless that variance in residential electricity consumption cannot be fully explained by independent variables related to household and building characteristics alone. As for the methodological approach, the results further suggest that methods for statistical analysis of variance are of considerable value in indentifying key indicators for policy update and development.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2012
National Category
Energy Systems
Research subject
Energy- and Environmental Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-13193 (URN)10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.04.034 (DOI)000300463800068 ()2-s2.0-84855293603 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2011-10-27 Created: 2011-10-27 Last updated: 2019-06-26Bibliographically approved
3. Climate-smart information design: Visualizing residential electricity use over the Internet
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Climate-smart information design: Visualizing residential electricity use over the Internet
2011 (English)In: Information Design Journal, ISSN 0142-5471, E-ISSN 1569-979X, Vol. 19, no 1, p. 3-17Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

In light of global warming, energy conservation is indispensable. Residential electricity use, nevertheless, escapes consumers’ notice. Thus feedback is essential, yet households’ access to information is vastly limited. Smart metering renders continuous feedback over the Internet possible, but users perceive existing web tools to be inaccessible and incomprehensible. Hence the aim has been to design a user interface so as to serve the purpose of increasing awareness and energy efficiency in households. Ease of access and straightforwardness have been established as key factors and conventional bar charts in combination with color symbolism have proven to be useful in this respect.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2011
National Category
Human Computer Interaction
Research subject
Innovation and Design
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-13194 (URN)10.1075/idj.19.1.02bar (DOI)2-s2.0-79960713140 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2011-10-27 Created: 2011-10-27 Last updated: 2018-01-12Bibliographically approved
4. Introducing a demand-based electricity distribution tariff in the residential sector: demand response and customer perception
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Introducing a demand-based electricity distribution tariff in the residential sector: demand response and customer perception
Show others...
2011 (English)In: Energy Policy, ISSN 0301-4215, E-ISSN 1873-6777, Vol. 39, no 9, p. 5008-5025Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Increased demand response is essential to fully exploit the Swedish power system, which in turn is an absolute prerequisite for meeting political goals related to energy efficiency and climate change. Demand response programs are, nonetheless, still exceptional in the residential sector of the Swedish electricity market, one contributory factor being lack of knowledge about the extent of the potential gains. In light of these circumstances, this empirical study set out with the intention of estimating the scope of households’ response to, and assessing customers’ perception of, a demand-based time-of-use electricity distribution tariff. The results show that households as a whole have a fairly high opinion of the demand-based tariff and act on its intrinsic price signals by decreasing peak demand in peak periods and shifting electricity use from peak to off-peak periods.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2011
National Category
Energy Systems
Research subject
Energy- and Environmental Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-13195 (URN)10.1016/j.enpol.2011.06.013 (DOI)000294594200033 ()2-s2.0-79960729409 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2011-10-27 Created: 2011-10-27 Last updated: 2017-12-08Bibliographically approved

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