Power Customers do not work as expected – ABC News

Power Customers triggered not by the prospect of lower electricity prices, but rather of social responsibility and environmental awareness.

By 2019, all Norwegian households get smart electricity meters. The old meter fuse box is replaced with a new digital meter that will provide both the consumer and the grid company information on power traffic and the variation in electricity prices.

AMS, advanced metering and management system, is an important step towards a “smart” power grids, Smart Grid, a more flexible network that will facilitate getting into more renewable energy from new power sources. More efficient energy use and reduced peak are other key objectives.

Will the smart meters to work as intended, it requires active consumers who behave like politicians, planners and utility companies believe and hope. Power Customers who closely monitors the price fluctuations throughout the day, and for example allows to put on the laundry when power is cheapest.

But it is not certain that we are acting as expected.

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Concern in the industry

– In the past we have seen some concern in the industry that many will not behave in line with the idea that lies behind, namely that rational consumers who react predictable price signals. A number of studies show that consumers are not very sensitive to price of electricity, says scientist Professor Marianne Ryghaug.

Ryghaug and researcher colleagues William Throndsen and Tomas Moe Skjølsvold at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture has studied the process of introduction of Smart Grid. They both looked at the protracted political debate, how the industry will follow up politicians decisions and, not least, how consumers react to the new technology.

Some of the findings are presented today at the annual conference in CenSES, a research Sustainable Energy. Researchers from eight different research groups, among them researchers at NTNU and SINTEF, affiliated center.

Pilot

The smart meters have been deployed in some pilot projects around the country, among them 700 households in Steinkjer. Researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 13 of the users, divided into two focus groups. The main objective was to investigate how people reacted to the idea of ​​a future transition to smarter management of their own power, and thus how they would exploit the opportunities technology offers.

It appeared that many were skeptical, both the motives behind the restructuring and whether they would change consumption patterns in order to get lower electricity bills.

– People are active and engaged, but not because of the price of electricity. However, we found a strong political commitment. They would like to contribute to collective benefits, like saving the environment or avoid several new power lines, says Tomas Moe Skjølsvold.

“Energy Citizen”

– Many experienced almost like a little demeaning to be reduced to a customer, to a kind of calculator with only one thought in his head, adds William Throndsen.

– The prospect of lower price did not create much involvement in the focus groups. But the discussion took off when we took up issues of societal and environmental. People want to see themselves as an “energy citizen” who participates and takes responsibility. But then they must also be consulted – and heard.

Smart Grid relies on active consumers to function as intended. The challenge for politicians and utilities is to take users seriously, and not reduce them to customers who allow themselves to be ruled by price fluctuations throughout the day, he said.

Dings The power

Scientists are concerned what they call “material Freedom”: “Gadgets” as smart meters, triggering specific actions that have more potential to engage users than all sorts of diffuse awareness campaigns and Wagging fingers.

– Smart meters can serve as a catalyst providing more conscious energy users. “Gizmos” engages and becomes discussion. The action potential must be exploited, whether to make the transition to a low carbon society. We do not exploit “gizmo the power” if users reduced to customers, to calculators. It is too narrow, it does not correspond with how people perceive themselves, says Ryghaug.

– Norway will spend 5-6 billion in “deployment” of smart meters. Then it would have been fine if we get something in return for the investment, she adds.

NTNU researchers collaborate with Spanish and Danish counterparts through project IHSMAG, Integrating householders in the smart grid. It is funded by the ERA-net, a partnership between Research in several countries. The project will continue next year.