Smart Grid Fund Electricity Pilot

Findings from Survey 2

Preliminary findings, 6:48am 19may17

Survey 2 was conducted among Hydro One customers who participated in the Smart Grid Fund FlexPlan Electricity Pricing Pilot between April 29, 2017 and May 17, 2017. The survey was programmed in Sawtooth Software Lighthouse v9.3 and was hosted on a server at McMaster University. Email invitations were sent to a soft launch sample of 22 customers on April 29, 2017. The invitations were sent to the remaining sample list on May 4, 2017. The formal online portion of the survey was concluded on May 17, 2017. Those who had not completed or partially completed the survey by May 17, 2017 were called by telephone to encourage their participation between May 18, 2017 and May __, 2017.

Tables of electricity and sample design categories

Disposition of respondents
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
Incomplete 64 7.85 7.85 7.85
Complete 751 92.15 92.15 100.00
missings 0 0.00
total N=815 · valid N=815 · x̄=1.92 · σ=0.27
egroup
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
Experiment: No feedback 285 34.97 34.97 34.97
Experiment: IHD, No Energate 226 27.73 27.73 62.70
Experiment: IHD + PlotWatt, No Energate 222 27.24 27.24 89.94
Control: No feedback 33 4.05 4.05 93.99
Control: IHD, No Energate 22 2.70 2.70 96.69
Control: IHD + PlotWatt, No Energate 27 3.31 3.31 100.00
missings 0 0.00
total N=815 · valid N=815 · x̄=2.22 · σ=1.23
group
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
Experiment: No feedback 273 33.50 33.50 33.50
Experiment: IHD, No Energate 215 26.38 26.38 59.88
Experiment: IHD + PlotWatt, No Energate 207 25.40 25.40 85.28
Control: No feedback 33 4.05 4.05 89.33
Control: IHD, No Energate 20 2.45 2.45 91.78
Control: IHD + PlotWatt, No Energate 26 3.19 3.19 94.97
Dropped out of pilot 41 5.03 5.03 100.00
missings 0 0.00
total N=815 · valid N=815 · x̄=2.45 · σ=1.59

Rate Groups

rategroup
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
R1 350 42.94 42.94 42.94
R2 403 49.45 49.45 92.39
UR 62 7.61 7.61 100.00
missings 0 0.00
total N=815 · valid N=815 · x̄=1.65 · σ=0.62

Treatment Groups

treatment
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
H1 TOU 61 7.48 8.32 8.32
TOU1 68 8.34 9.28 17.60
TOU2 70 8.59 9.55 27.15
TOU3 70 8.59 9.55 36.70
TOU4 61 7.48 8.32 45.02
TOU5 62 7.61 8.46 53.48
TOU6 58 7.12 7.91 61.39
VPP/CPP7 55 6.75 7.50 68.89
VPP/CPP8 53 6.50 7.23 76.13
VPP/CPP9 62 7.61 8.46 84.58
VPP/CPP10 53 6.50 7.23 91.81
RTP11 60 7.36 8.19 100.00
missings 82 10.06
total N=815 · valid N=733 · x̄=6.29 · σ=3.46

Customer responses to survey questions

Conservation Efforts
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
Less electricity used 294 36.07 36.39 36.39
About the same electricity 498 61.10 61.63 98.02
More electricity used 16 1.96 1.98 100.00
missings 7 0.86
total N=815 · valid N=808 · x̄=1.66 · σ=0.52

Shifting electricity

Shifting Efforts
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
Yes I have shifted electricity usage 630 77.30 77.97 77.97
No I have not shifted electricity usage 178 21.84 22.03 100.00
missings 7 0.86
total N=815 · valid N=808 · x̄=1.22 · σ=0.41

Efforts expended to save electricity

Efforts expended to save electricity
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
We worked very hard 86 10.55 10.66 10.66
Reasonably hard 442 54.23 54.77 65.43
Only a little 248 30.43 30.73 96.16
We did not work at all to save electricity 31 3.80 3.84 100.00
missings 8 0.98
total N=815 · valid N=807 · x̄=2.28 · σ=0.70

Notifications from McMaster regarding savings

Notifications from McMaster regarding savings
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
Never 84 10.31 11.60 11.60
Once 40 4.91 5.52 17.13
Twice 98 12.02 13.54 30.66
Three times 124 15.21 17.13 47.79
Four times 124 15.21 17.13 64.92
Five times 73 8.96 10.08 75.00
Six times 181 22.21 25.00 100.00
missings 91 11.17
total N=815 · valid N=724 · x̄=4.53 · σ=1.99

Satisfaction with dimensions of the pilot

Satisfaction with amount saved during FlexPlan pilot
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
1 Very Dissatisfied 43 5.28 5.57 5.57
2 34 4.17 4.40 9.97
3 48 5.89 6.22 16.19
4 49 6.01 6.35 22.54
5 131 16.07 16.97 39.51
6 78 9.57 10.10 49.61
7 106 13.01 13.73 63.34
8 109 13.37 14.12 77.46
9 54 6.63 6.99 84.46
10 Very Satisfied 120 14.72 15.54 100.00
missings 43 5.28
total N=815 · valid N=772 · x̄=6.31 · σ=2.61
Satisfaction with FlexPlan electricity pilot overall
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
1 Very Dissatisfied 23 2.82 2.98 2.98
2 27 3.31 3.50 6.48
3 41 5.03 5.31 11.79
4 27 3.31 3.50 15.28
5 98 12.02 12.69 27.98
6 62 7.61 8.03 36.01
7 109 13.37 14.12 50.13
8 140 17.18 18.13 68.26
9 77 9.45 9.97 78.24
10 Very Satisfied 168 20.61 21.76 100.00
missings 43 5.28
total N=815 · valid N=772 · x̄=7.03 · σ=2.50
Satisfaction with management of the FlexPlan electricity pilot by McMaster University
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
1 Very Dissatisfied 17 2.09 2.20 2.20
2 16 1.96 2.07 4.27
3 23 2.82 2.98 7.25
4 27 3.31 3.50 10.75
5 75 9.20 9.72 20.47
6 50 6.13 6.48 26.94
7 105 12.88 13.60 40.54
8 158 19.39 20.47 61.01
9 102 12.52 13.21 74.22
10 Very Satisfied 199 24.42 25.78 100.00
missings 43 5.28
total N=815 · valid N=772 · x̄=7.52 · σ=2.31
Satisfaction with installation procedure at the beginning of the FlexPlan electricity pilot
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
1 Very Dissatisfied 9 1.10 1.84 1.84
2 2 0.25 0.41 2.25
3 11 1.35 2.25 4.50
4 10 1.23 2.04 6.54
5 16 1.96 3.27 9.82
6 24 2.94 4.91 14.72
7 49 6.01 10.02 24.74
8 92 11.29 18.81 43.56
9 97 11.90 19.84 63.39
10 Very Satisfied 179 21.96 36.61 100.00
missings 326 40.00
total N=815 · valid N=489 · x̄=8.29 · σ=2.03
Satisfaction with the ‘FlexPlan Study Monthly Cost and Rebate Report’
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
1 Very Dissatisfied 18 2.21 2.49 2.49
2 19 2.33 2.62 5.11
3 25 3.07 3.45 8.56
4 20 2.45 2.76 11.33
5 76 9.33 10.50 21.82
6 53 6.50 7.32 29.14
7 99 12.15 13.67 42.82
8 124 15.21 17.13 59.94
9 97 11.90 13.40 73.34
10 Very Satisfied 193 23.68 26.66 100.00
missings 91 11.17
total N=815 · valid N=724 · x̄=7.45 · σ=2.40
Satisfaction with the pricing plan used by your household during the FlexPlan Pilot
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
1 Very Dissatisfied 45 5.52 6.22 6.22
2 Somewhat Dissatisfied 59 7.24 8.15 14.36
3 Slightly Dissatisfied 76 9.33 10.50 24.86
4 Slightly Satisfied 145 17.79 20.03 44.89
5 Somewhat Satisfied 266 32.64 36.74 81.63
6 Very Satisfied 133 16.32 18.37 100.00
missings 91 11.17
total N=815 · valid N=724 · x̄=4.28 · σ=1.42
How well did the FlexPlan pilot pricing plan meet your expectations for being able to manage your electricity usage
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
1 Did not meet my expectations at all 55 6.75 6.86 6.86
2 Only slightly met my expectations 90 11.04 11.22 18.08
3 Somewhat met my expectations 186 22.82 23.19 41.27
4 Mostly met my expectations 250 30.67 31.17 72.44
5 Fully met my expectations 185 22.70 23.07 95.51
6 Exceeded my expectations 36 4.42 4.49 100.00
missings 13 1.60
total N=815 · valid N=802 · x̄=3.66 · σ=1.26
Customers were shown their FlexPlan pricing plan at the top of the screen, the current Hydro One pricing plan at the bottom and asked which they prefer
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
1 I prefer the FlexPlan pricing plan (Top) 567 69.57 82.77 82.77
2 I prefer the current Hydro One pricing plan (Bottom) 118 14.48 17.23 100.00
missings 130 15.95
total N=815 · valid N=685 · x̄=1.17 · σ=0.38
Sex
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
1 Male 401 49.20 53.40 53.40
2 Female 350 42.94 46.60 100.00
missings 64 7.85
total N=815 · valid N=751 · x̄=1.47 · σ=0.50
2016 total household income before taxes
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
1 Under $20,000 25 3.07 3.38 3.38
2 $20,000 to $39,999 73 8.96 9.88 13.26
3 $40,000 to $59,999 121 14.85 16.37 29.63
4 $60,000 to $79,999 110 13.50 14.88 44.52
5 $80,000 to $99,999 112 13.74 15.16 59.68
6 $100,000 to $124,999 115 14.11 15.56 75.24
7 $125,000 to $150,000 68 8.34 9.20 84.44
8 Over $150,000 115 14.11 15.56 100.00
missings 76 9.33
total N=815 · valid N=739 · x̄=4.90 · σ=2.04