My friends and family are always wondering about my research thesis. So, I've copied below an abstract that I've written about the my research. Note, that not all of what has been said here is completed yet, and I haven't analyzed any of my data... though that is going to happen soon. Please feel free to comment or ask questions!
TOU and Vulnerable Households: A case study of electricity consumption behaviour
Through the Smart Metering Initiative in the Canadian province of Ontario, all residential households will be converted to a time-of-use (TOU) rate pricing system for electricity by the year 2010. Although TOU rates are designed to be cost-neutral for the average consumer, research suggests that TOU rates may affect consumers differently depending on their socioeconomic characteristics. In an effort to understand the effects of TOU rates on lower-income and senior-headed households, researchers from the University of Waterloo conducted a collaborative study with Milton Hydro throughout the Summer and Fall of 2007. Ten expert interviews were conducted with Ontario professionals working in government, environmental non-profit and citizen advocacy organizations in order to provide context for the study. Time-differentiated electricity consumption data were then collected from 201 units in affordable housing and senior housing complexes in Milton, Ontario between May and October 2007. Researchers determined if the households were expected, given their then-current electricity consumption patterns, to have their electricity costs rise or fall as they moved from the traditional ‘flat rate’ pricing system to the TOU pricing system. They also determined the household response to TOU rates by calculating the proportion of electricity shifted to off-peak periods or conserved during on-peak periods as a result of the introduction of the new pricing system. This research emphasizes the relationship between energy policy and environmental equity and demonstrates the influence of socioeconomic characteristics in energy conservation behaviour.
Monday, September 17, 2007
A bit about my research
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3 comments:
Before Mike Harris broke-up all the utilities, Toronto Hydro had a program called "Power Shift". Power Shift also used Time of Use meters. I was hooked up for about 8 years, and most years saved about 10-20% on my hydro bill.
I got used to doing my laundry on weekends or late at night (drying is the big draw). The only time I found it hard not to use at peak time was in the daytime during hot weather. It was difficult not adjusting the thermostat downwards. But other than that, it was just something you get used to over time.
A month ago, Toronto Hydro installed one of the new TOU meters on my house. When it is fully operational it will tell me how much it is costing me, in real dollars, and in real time. So, in future when I turn the dryer on, it will tell me how much I am being charged by the minute! I think this will be a wake-up call for many to cut back.
Some will shun the new meter, but I welcome it as a tool to help me control my energy usage.
"Uncle" Ian
Shifting some of the daytime peak to increase the baseload during the late evening/overnight will have consequences to the hydroelectric producers and in turn the rivers that they rely on. Hydropower is regarded as one the best power source for meeting fluctuating demand due to it's ability to add power to the grid very quickly once a request from the IESO is made. If daytime peak demand was reduced, this would reduce the extreme ramping of rivers which dramatically alters the hydrology, ecology, aesthics, and recreational values these rivers had. Hydropower projects would move towards run-of-river design as opposed to the large head dams and reservoirs storing water.
In essence, the rivers mirror the electricity demand. In the current situtaiton, during the night the hydroproducers would prefer to shut off the water altogether and save the water for the peak demand and peak price, they only pass a minimum flow because MNR puts that condition on their development. If the baseload increased, the rivers would have a higher flow at night and that would decrease the gap between the effective minimum flow and peak flow. This would be ecologically beneficial.
Bryan
Hey Bryan!
Thanks for posting.
You are absolutely correct here. And thanks for pointing out a significant link between electricity demand and ecological systems.
The point of my research isn't to say that we shouldn't go forward with the Smart Metering Initiative and TOU rates. The point of my research is to show that people behave differently depending on their socioeconomic characteristics. Therefore, not all people will react the same to TOU rates. For example, some households don't have "discretionary loads" to shift to off peak periods. Or, conversely, wealthy households may find it too inconvenient to shift and can easily absorb the increase in costs during the peak periods.
So essentially, the point of my research is to say that if we are implementing a strategy, it should not disproportionately effect the most vulnerable households. If it does, we need to figure out a way to help vulnerable households adapt.
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