Customer Acceptance of Direct Load Controls: Residential Water Heating and Air Conditioning. Final Report

摘要

Analysis of 38 utility-sponsored water heating load control programs, 16 air conditioning programs and 5 attitude surveys of residential customers who have no experience with load control are the basis of this report. This information indicates that, in general, the public has favorable attitudes toward load control. Over 90% participation in voluntary water heating load control has been achieved by some utilities. Direct personal appeals which provide customers information appears to be the most effective way to increase participation. Direct incentives to customers are helpful but size of the incentive has little effect on participation rates. Up to four hours of shut-offs of water heaters appear to have little effect on hot water availability for most customers and some utilities have much longer shut-off periods with 80 gal water heaters. Those customers who have actually had their appliances controlled continue to have favorable attitudes. It appears possible that 50 to 75% of the residential central air conditioning customers will sign up for a voluntary load control program under the right conditions. Marketing again is the key here. Off cycles of 25%, 7 1/2 minutes off and 22 1/2 minutes on appear to have few customer impacts where tried. Longer off cycles seem to be possible under milder climatic conditions.