The Effects of Daily Feedback on Residential Electricity Usage as a Function of Usage Level and Type of Feedback Information

Ronald G. Bittle
Robert M. Valesano
Greg M. Thaler

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DOI: 10.2190/91AA-P97G-JF92-T7EJ

Abstract

This study was conducted with 353 families during the Summer of 1977. Families received daily feedback each day except Sunday. Feedback (the independent variable) consisted of either the kilowatts consumed the previous day, the cumulative kilowatts consumed since the first of the month, the cost of the electricity consumed the previous day or the cumulative cost of the electricity consumed since the first of the month. The dependent variable was the number of kilowatts of electricity consumed daily. Results indicated that feedback was effective in reducing consumption for high consumers but had the opposite effect for medium and low consumers. Data is presented to show the differential effect of the four various types of daily feedback.

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