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Evidence from Two Large Field Experiments that Peer Comparison Feedback Can Reduce Residential Energy Usage

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Author Info
Ian Ayres
Sophie Raseman
Alice Shih
Abstract

By providing feedback to customers on home electricity and natural gas usage with a focus on peer comparisons, utilities can reduce energy consumption at a low cost. We analyze data from two large-scale, random-assignment field experiments conducted by utility companies providing electricity (the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)) and electricity and natural gas (Puget Sound Energy (PSE)), in partnership with a private company, Positive Energy/oPower, which provides monthly or quarterly mailed peer feedback reports to customers. We find reductions in energy consumption of 1.2% (PSE) to 2.1% percent (SMUD), with the decrease sustained over time (seven months (PSE) and twelve months (SMUD)).

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Paper provided by National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc in its series NBER Working Papers with number 15386.

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Date of creation: Sep 2009
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Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:15386

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O13 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products

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This page was last updated on 2009-12-18.

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