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Consumer engagement in alternative energy--Can the regulators and suppliers be trusted?

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  • Mumford, John
  • Gray, David

Abstract

The introduction of alternative energy requires collaboration between consumers, energy suppliers and regulators. A fundamental question is, will consumers engage with this agenda and, in particular, will they trust the institutions sufficiently to enable the collaborations that are needed. Present indications suggest that consumers have little trust in the established institutions and tend to reject such collaborations. This article presents two case studies which explore the way consumers, regulators and energy suppliers interact in relation to alternative energy projects. It analyses the inter-group interactions from the perspective of symbolic interactionism and discusses the aspects that undermine trust, leading to suggestions for improved trust.

Suggested Citation

  • Mumford, John & Gray, David, 2010. "Consumer engagement in alternative energy--Can the regulators and suppliers be trusted?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(6), pages 2664-2671, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:38:y:2010:i:6:p:2664-2671
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    1. Michael Siegrist & Heinz Gutscher & Timothy C. Earle, 2005. "Perception of risk: the influence of general trust, and general confidence," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(2), pages 145-156, March.
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    3. Ragnar E. Löfstedt, 2005. "Risk Management in Post-Trust Societies," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-0-230-50394-6, October.
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    Cited by:

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    2. repec:mpr:mprres:6709 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Lehtonen, Markku & de Carlo, Laurence, 2019. "Community energy and the virtues of mistrust and distrust: Lessons from Brighton and Hove energy cooperatives," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 1-1.
    4. Balta-Ozkan, Nazmiye & Le Gallo, Julie, 2018. "Spatial variation in energy attitudes and perceptions: Evidence from Europe," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 2160-2180.
    5. Demski, Christina & Evensen, Darrick & Pidgeon, Nick & Spence, Alexa, 2017. "Public prioritisation of energy affordability in the UK," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 404-409.
    6. Goulden, Murray & Spence, Alexa & Wardman, Jamie & Leygue, Caroline, 2018. "Differentiating ‘the user’ in DSR: Developing demand side response in advanced economies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 176-185.
    7. Geels, F.W. & Sareen, S & Hook, A. & Sovacool, B.K., 2021. "Navigating implementation dilemmas in technology-forcing policies: A comparative analysis of accelerated smart meter diffusion in the Netherlands, UK, Norway, and Portugal (2000-2019)," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(7).
    8. Julien Lancelot Michellod & Declan Kuch & Christian Winzer & Martin K. Patel & Selin Yilmaz, 2022. "Building Social License for Automated Demand-Side Management—Case Study Research in the Swiss Residential Sector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-25, October.
    9. Wolsink, Maarten, 2012. "Undesired reinforcement of harmful ‘self-evident truths’ concerning the implementation of wind power," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 83-87.
    10. Bauwens, Thomas & Devine-Wright, Patrick, 2018. "Positive energies? An empirical study of community energy participation and attitudes to renewable energy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 612-625.
    11. Knauf, Jakob & le Maitre, Julia, 2023. "A matter of acceptability? Understanding citizen investment schemes in the context of onshore wind farm development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    12. Ma, Guo & Andrews-Speed, Philip & Zhang, Jiandong, 2013. "Chinese consumer attitudes towards energy saving: The case of household electrical appliances in Chongqing," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 591-602.

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    Keywords

    Trust Alternative energy Consumers;

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