SMUD’S Home Electricity Report Program

This well-evaluated program uses feedback, reminders, normative messaging, loss-aversion, goal setting and commitments to improve energy conservation and overcome the “rebound effect.” Sacramento county residents get Home Electricity Reports comparing monthly and annual electricity usage to 100 comparable homes and 20 comparable, highly efficient homes nearby; low-use households get happy faces on their reports. The customized reports also recommend specific energy-saving opportunities and show potential savings from reducing to the level of the 20 most efficient comparison households. Designated as a Landmark (best practice) case study in 2010.

Background

Click on the links in the left hand column to view the webinar transcript and handouts.

Results

By making small changes, participants have reduced electricity use by 2 percent and have maintained that reduction after thirty months. Even the most energy-efficient households have achieved additional savings. By targeting consumers who saved the most in the pilot, SMUD expects to bring the cost of the Home Electricity Reports program down to $.03 for every kWh reduced, which is less than half the cost of purchased power. The approach has been replicated in two dozen other large cities in the United States.

Contacts

Bruce Ceniceros
Program Planner, SMUD
(916) 732-6747
bcenice@smud.org

Notes

Landmark Designation

The panel that designated this program consisted of:

• Melissa Klein, US EPA’s ENERGY STAR® Program
• Arien Kortland, BC Hydro
• Clifford Maynes, Green Communities Canada
• Edward Vine, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• Dan York, ACEEE

 

This case study was compiled in 2012 by Jay Kassirer and Sharon Boddy.