Smart meters can help citizens in optimizing energy consumption patterns. However, mixed evidence exists on their effectiveness in reducing energy demand and especially in levelling off the daily peaks of electricity load curves. Here, we evaluate the impact of providing real-time feedback on electricity consumption from a field trial in Italy. We combine standard regressions with machine learning techniques on high-frequency data to quantify impacts on both levels and patterns of electricity use. Results indicate that real-time feedback can moderately decrease electricity consumption (between 0.5 and 1.9% depending on model specification), but that it does not promote load shifting throughout the day by itself. Machine learning reveals evidence of significant household heterogeneity in the behavioral response.

Real-time feedback on electricity consumption: evidence from a field experiment in Italy

Marangoni G.;Tavoni M.
2021-01-01

Abstract

Smart meters can help citizens in optimizing energy consumption patterns. However, mixed evidence exists on their effectiveness in reducing energy demand and especially in levelling off the daily peaks of electricity load curves. Here, we evaluate the impact of providing real-time feedback on electricity consumption from a field trial in Italy. We combine standard regressions with machine learning techniques on high-frequency data to quantify impacts on both levels and patterns of electricity use. Results indicate that real-time feedback can moderately decrease electricity consumption (between 0.5 and 1.9% depending on model specification), but that it does not promote load shifting throughout the day by itself. Machine learning reveals evidence of significant household heterogeneity in the behavioral response.
2021
Energy conservation
High-frequency data
Real-time feedback
Residential load curves
Smart meters
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11311/1159251
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