A multi-criteria assessment framework for direct load control in residential buildings from an occupants’ perspective

Based on economic and occupants-relevant criteria, this paper proposes an assessment framework for direct load control schemes, using the Analytic Hierarchy Process approach for a multi-criteria decision analysis. For direct load control, as a form of demand response, a third-party provider (e.g., grid operator, aggregator) is allowed to control or limit the residential electric load upon a control signal. The assessment framework enables the transparent evaluation of different direct load control approaches from a residential perspective, with criteria derived from literature. Five criteria were found to be particularly relevant for evaluating direct load control approaches (in descending order): financial compensation, guaranteed comfort, control, transparency, frequency and duration. The assessment framework includes value scores, which represent the degree to which a specific approach meets a given evaluation criterion, and combines them with the criteria weights derived in the Analytic Hierarchy Process. While direct load control is mostly accepted in the context of heating technology, there is less acceptance for impacted charging of electric vehicles. The results seem useful for third-party providers and policy-makers that need to find better ways to design and implement demand response measures in the private household sector and such that are also acceptable to occupants.