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Does Information Feedback from In-Home Devices Reduce Electricity Use? Evidence from a Field Experiment

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  • Shahzeen Z. Attari
  • Gautam Gowrisankaran
  • Troy Simpson
  • Sabine M. Marx

Abstract

There is limited evidence of behavioral changes resulting from electricity information feedback. Using a randomized control trial from a New York apartment building, we study long-term effects of information feedback from “Modlet” in-home devices, which provide near-real-time plug-level information. We find a 12–23% decrease in electricity use for treatment apartments, concentrated among individuals reporting higher willingness-to-pay for an energy monitoring system. Decrease in overall electricity use is similar among treatment apartments which received Modlets and those which declined Modlets, and does not specifically occur for outlets with Modlets. This decrease may be due to a Hawthorne or salience effect.

Suggested Citation

  • Shahzeen Z. Attari & Gautam Gowrisankaran & Troy Simpson & Sabine M. Marx, 2014. "Does Information Feedback from In-Home Devices Reduce Electricity Use? Evidence from a Field Experiment," NBER Working Papers 20809, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:20809
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    Cited by:

    1. Wang, Xiangrui & Lee, Jukwan & Yan, Jia & Thompson, Gary D., 2018. "Testing the behavior of rationally inattentive consumers in a residential water market," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 344-359.
    2. Fuhai Hong & Tanjim Hossain & John A. List & Migiwa Tanaka, 2018. "Testing The Theory Of Multitasking: Evidence From A Natural Field Experiment In Chinese Factories," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 59(2), pages 511-536, May.
    3. Matteo Fontana & Massimo Tavoni & Simone Vantini, 2019. "Functional Data Analysis of high-frequency load curves reveals drivers of residential electricity consumption," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(6), pages 1-16, June.
    4. Wang, Xiangrui & Lee, Jukwan & Yan, Jia & Thompson, Gary D., 2017. "Modeling Rational But Inattentive Consumer’s Residential Water Demand," 2017 Annual Meeting, July 30-August 1, Chicago, Illinois 258555, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    5. Matsukawa, Isamu, 2018. "Information acquisition and residential electricity consumption: Evidence from a field experiment," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 1-19.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • L94 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Electric Utilities
    • Q30 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation - - - General
    • Q40 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - General
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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