In this report the results from a number of field studies in which domestic electricity consumers were exposed to electricity spot prices are presented. The goal of the study was to see if consumers reacted in a way that would make it meaningful for Demand Response programs to be extended to domestic electricity consumers. Household participation in such programs could be used to compensate for the variability of wind power as well as to reduce load peaks.
Two field studies were conducted. In the first, households with waterborne electric heating were subjected to remotely managed direct load control. In the second, consumers with direct electric heating were subjected to indirect load control. This means that these households were only provided with information on the current electricity price so that they could then make manual adjustments to their load. In both cases, consumers were given access to a web portal that provided information about current and (near) future prices as well as historical information about consumption and costs.
The field studies were carried out during the winters of 2007/2008 and 2008/2009.
The energy tariff used was “fixed price with a right of return” which essentially consists of a predefined volume of energy at a fixed price, and where the variations around this volume are bought (and sold) by the end user at spot prices. This tariff exposes consumers to a semi-dynamic electricity price. For both groups, the grid tariff used was a capacity tariff. The directly controlled customers also received a fixed fee for allowing remote automatic control of their heating systems.
In the direct control study consumers were given a radio-controlled device that allowed the utility to remotely manipulate the outdoor temperature sensor of the heating system. By simulating a rise in temperature, power consumption could be reduced. By simulating a fall in temperature, power consumption could be increased.
The idea was to reduce power consumption when prices were high without reducing the temperature so much that it would cause discomfort for the families. A major goal was to see if this was possible. Another goal was to see what happened once the manipulations ended. Would the load increase as the heating system tried to compensate for the reduced temperatures?
Indirectly controlled customers were required to keep themselves up to date on the fluctuations of the spot price, and manually adjust their electricity consumption accordingly.
The grid company involved was Göteborg Energi, which also co-financed the project. The supplier was “Din
El” / PlusEnergi.