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Moving from Outsider to Insider: Peer Status and Partnerships between Electricity Utilities and Residential Consumers

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  • Peter Morris
  • Laurie Buys
  • Desley Vine

Abstract

An electricity demand reduction project based on comprehensive residential consumer engagement was established within an Australian community in 2008. By 2011, both the peak demand and grid supplied electricity consumption had decreased to below pre-intervention levels. This case study research explored the relationship developed between the utility, community and individual consumer from the residential customer perspective through qualitative research of 22 residential households. It is proposed that an energy utility can be highly successful at peak demand reduction by becoming a community member and a peer to residential consumers and developing the necessary trust, access, influence and partnership required to create the responsive environment to change. A peer-community approach could provide policymakers with a pathway for implementing pro-environmental behaviour for low carbon communities, as well as peak demand reduction, thereby addressing government emission targets while limiting the cost of living increases from infrastructure expenditure.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Morris & Laurie Buys & Desley Vine, 2014. "Moving from Outsider to Insider: Peer Status and Partnerships between Electricity Utilities and Residential Consumers," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(6), pages 1-8, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0101189
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101189
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    Cited by:

    1. Peter Morris & Desley Vine & Laurie Buys, 2018. "Critical Success Factors for Peak Electricity Demand Reduction: Insights from a Successful Intervention in a Small Island Community," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 41(1), pages 33-54, March.
    2. Wendy Miller & Glenn Crompton & John Bell, 2015. "Analysis of Cool Roof Coatings for Residential Demand Side Management in Tropical Australia," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(6), pages 1-16, June.
    3. Said, Fathin Faizah & Babatunde, Kazeem Alasinrin & Md Nor, Nor Ghani & Mahmoud, Moamin A. & Begum, Rawshan Ara, 2022. "Decarbonizing the Global Electricity Sector through Demand-Side Management: A Systematic Critical Review of Policy Responses," Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, vol. 56(1), pages 71-91.
    4. Morris, Peter & Vine, Desley & Buys, Laurie, 2015. "Application of a Bayesian Network complex system model to a successful community electricity demand reduction program," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 63-74.
    5. Felder, F.A. & Kumar, P., 2021. "A review of existing deep decarbonization models and their potential in policymaking," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    6. Bongsuk Sung & Sang-Do Park, 2018. "Who Drives the Transition to a Renewable-Energy Economy? Multi-Actor Perspective on Social Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-32, February.
    7. Camarinha-Matos, Luis M., 2016. "Collaborative smart grids – A survey on trends," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 283-294.
    8. Sania Malik, 2021. "Residential Electricity Consumers and Increasing Block Pricing Policy in Pakistan: Evidence Based on Household Level Primary Data," Journal of Economic Impact, Science Impact Publishers, vol. 3(2), pages 80-87.

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