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An Experimental Study of Monthly Electricity Demand (In)elasticity

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  • David P. Byrne, Andrea La Nauze, and Leslie A. Martin

Abstract

We document substantial rigidity in household electricity demand in response to large price shocks. We partnered with an electricity retailer to run a field experiment in which randomly-selected households received discounts of up to 50% on their total electricity bill or up to 95% off their per unit cost of electricity for a full month. We show that the quantity of electricity consumed was unaffected by these discounts. Exploiting rich billing, smart meter, and survey data, we document responses that are much more inelastic than previously observed in scenarios that raise prices for a few hours or raise or lower prices for indefinitely-long periods of time. Our results hold even among subgroups that we ex-ante believed were most likely to respond.

Suggested Citation

  • David P. Byrne, Andrea La Nauze, and Leslie A. Martin, 2021. "An Experimental Study of Monthly Electricity Demand (In)elasticity," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 2), pages 205-222.
    • Handle: RePEc:aen:journl:ej42-2-byrne
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Agustin J. Ros, 2017. "An Econometric Assessment of Electricity Demand in the United States Using Utility-specific Panel Data and the Impact of Retail Competition on Prices," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 4).
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    7. Tatyana Deryugina & Alexander MacKay & Julian Reif, 2020. "The Long-Run Dynamics of Electricity Demand: Evidence from Municipal Aggregation," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 12(1), pages 86-114, January.
    8. Koichiro Ito, 2014. "Do Consumers Respond to Marginal or Average Price? Evidence from Nonlinear Electricity Pricing," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 104(2), pages 537-563, February.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Li, Raymond & Woo, Chi-Keung & Cox, Kevin, 2021. "How price-responsive is residential retail electricity demand in the US?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).
    3. Simshauser, P., 2021. "Vulnerable households and fuel poverty: policy targeting efficiency in Australia's National Electricity Market," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 2129, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    4. Adélaïde Fadhuile & Daniel Llerena & Béatrice Roussillon, 2023. "Intrinsic motivation to promote the development of renewable energy: a field experiment from household demand," Working Papers 2023-01, Grenoble Applied Economics Laboratory (GAEL).
    5. Simshauser, Paul, 2023. "The 2022 energy crisis: Fuel poverty and the impact of policy interventions in Australia's National Electricity Market," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    6. Lorraine Conway & David Prentice, 2020. "How Much do Households Respond to Electricity Prices? Evidence from Australia and Abroad," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 39(3), pages 290-311, September.
    7. Ding Du & Stephen A Karolyi, 2023. "Energy Transitions and Household Finance: Evidence from U.S. Coal Mining," The Review of Corporate Finance Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 12(4), pages 723-760.
    8. Cao, K.H. & Qi, H.S. & Li, R. & Woo, C.K. & Tishler, A. & Zarnikau, J., 2023. "An experiment in own-price elasticity estimation for non-residential electricity demand in the U.S," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).

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