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Disaggregate Consumption Feedback

Author

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  • Andreas Gerster
  • Mark A. Andor
  • Lorenz Götte

Abstract

We investigate the impact of providing households with disaggregate consumption feedback and develop a framework to assess its welfare implications. In the context of smart metering, we find that the provision of appliance-level feedback causes an energy conservation effect of 5 percent relative to a group receiving standard (aggregate) feedback. Hence, a smart meter roll-out will be substantially more effective if appliance-level feedback is provided. We also show that the current regulatory approach to assess consumer surplus overestimates the gains from smart meter feedback.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas Gerster & Mark A. Andor & Lorenz Götte, 2020. "Disaggregate Consumption Feedback," CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series crctr224_2020_182v2, University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany, revised May 2025.
  • Handle: RePEc:bon:boncrc:crctr224_2020_182v2
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    File URL: https://www.crctr224.de/research/discussion-papers/archive/dp182
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Randomized controlled trial; disaggregation; consumption feedback; energy conservation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • Q41 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Demand and Supply; Prices

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