Smart Grid Fund Electricity Pilot

Findings from Survey 2

Preliminary findings, 9:00am 28may17

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 , 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
disposition N raw % valid % cumulative %
Incomplete 58 6.81 6.81 6.81
Complete 794 93.19 93.19 100.00
missings 0 0.00
total N=852 · valid N=852 · x̄=1.93 · σ=0.25
egroup
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
Experiment: No feedback 292 34.27 34.27 34.27
Experiment: IHD, No Energate 231 27.11 27.11 61.38
Experiment: IHD + PlotWatt, No Energate 239 28.05 28.05 89.44
Control: No feedback 34 3.99 3.99 93.43
Control: IHD, No Energate 25 2.93 2.93 96.36
Control: IHD + PlotWatt, No Energate 31 3.64 3.64 100.00
missings 0 0.00
total N=852 · valid N=852 · x̄=2.25 · σ=1.25
group
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
Experiment: No feedback 280 32.86 32.86 32.86
Experiment: IHD, No Energate 219 25.70 25.70 58.57
Experiment: IHD + PlotWatt, No Energate 224 26.29 26.29 84.86
Control: No feedback 34 3.99 3.99 88.85
Control: IHD, No Energate 22 2.58 2.58 91.43
Control: IHD + PlotWatt, No Energate 30 3.52 3.52 94.95
Dropped out of pilot 43 5.05 5.05 100.00
missings 0 0.00
total N=852 · valid N=852 · x̄=2.48 · σ=1.61

Rate Groups

rategroup
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
R1 366 42.96 42.96 42.96
R2 418 49.06 49.06 92.02
UR 68 7.98 7.98 100.00
missings 0 0.00
total N=852 · valid N=852 · x̄=1.65 · σ=0.62

Treatment Groups

treatment
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
H1 TOU 65 7.63 8.53 8.53
TOU1 68 7.98 8.92 17.45
TOU2 72 8.45 9.45 26.90
TOU3 71 8.33 9.32 36.22
TOU4 64 7.51 8.40 44.62
TOU5 63 7.39 8.27 52.89
TOU6 60 7.04 7.87 60.76
VPP/CPP7 55 6.46 7.22 67.98
VPP/CPP8 56 6.57 7.35 75.33
VPP/CPP9 65 7.63 8.53 83.86
VPP/CPP10 57 6.69 7.48 91.34
RTP11 66 7.75 8.66 100.00
missings 90 10.56
total N=852 · valid N=762 · x̄=6.34 · σ=3.49

Customer responses to survey questions

Conservation Efforts
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
Less electricity used 303 35.56 35.90 35.90
About the same electricity 523 61.38 61.97 97.87
More electricity used 18 2.11 2.13 100.00
missings 8 0.94
total N=852 · valid N=844 · x̄=1.66 · σ=0.52

Shifting electricity

Shifting Efforts
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
Yes I have shifted electricity usage 655 76.88 77.61 77.61
No I have not shifted electricity usage 189 22.18 22.39 100.00
missings 8 0.94
total N=852 · valid N=844 · x̄=1.22 · σ=0.42

Efforts expended to save electricity

Efforts expended to save electricity
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
We worked very hard 89 10.45 10.56 10.56
Reasonably hard 463 54.34 54.92 65.48
Only a little 259 30.40 30.72 96.20
We did not work at all to save electricity 32 3.76 3.80 100.00
missings 9 1.06
total N=852 · valid N=843 · x̄=2.28 · σ=0.70

Notifications from McMaster regarding savings

Notifications from McMaster regarding savings
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
Never 94 11.03 12.48 12.48
Once 40 4.69 5.31 17.80
Twice 102 11.97 13.55 31.34
Three times 129 15.14 17.13 48.47
Four times 129 15.14 17.13 65.60
Five times 74 8.69 9.83 75.43
Six times 185 21.71 24.57 100.00
missings 99 11.62
total N=852 · valid N=753 · x̄=4.49 · σ=2.00

Satisfaction with dimensions of the pilot

Satisfaction with amount saved during FlexPlan pilot
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
1 Very Dissatisfied 46 5.40 5.70 5.70
2 36 4.23 4.46 10.16
3 52 6.10 6.44 16.60
4 50 5.87 6.20 22.80
5 141 16.55 17.47 40.27
6 82 9.62 10.16 50.43
7 110 12.91 13.63 64.06
8 115 13.50 14.25 78.31
9 54 6.34 6.69 85.01
10 Very Satisfied 121 14.20 14.99 100.00
missings 45 5.28
total N=852 · valid N=807 · x̄=6.27 · σ=2.61
Satisfaction with FlexPlan electricity pilot overall
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
1 Very Dissatisfied 28 3.29 3.47 3.47
2 29 3.40 3.59 7.06
3 42 4.93 5.20 12.27
4 29 3.40 3.59 15.86
5 107 12.56 13.26 29.12
6 65 7.63 8.05 37.17
7 113 13.26 14.00 51.18
8 145 17.02 17.97 69.14
9 79 9.27 9.79 78.93
10 Very Satisfied 170 19.95 21.07 100.00
missings 45 5.28
total N=852 · valid N=807 · x̄=6.96 · σ=2.53
Satisfaction with management of the FlexPlan electricity pilot by McMaster University
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
1 Very Dissatisfied 19 2.23 2.35 2.35
2 18 2.11 2.23 4.58
3 25 2.93 3.10 7.68
4 29 3.40 3.59 11.28
5 80 9.39 9.91 21.19
6 55 6.46 6.82 28.00
7 110 12.91 13.63 41.64
8 164 19.25 20.32 61.96
9 105 12.32 13.01 74.97
10 Very Satisfied 202 23.71 25.03 100.00
missings 45 5.28
total N=852 · valid N=807 · x̄=7.46 · σ=2.34
Satisfaction with installation procedure at the beginning of the FlexPlan electricity pilot
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
1 Very Dissatisfied 10 1.17 1.94 1.94
2 2 0.23 0.39 2.33
3 11 1.29 2.13 4.46
4 13 1.53 2.52 6.98
5 17 2.00 3.29 10.27
6 24 2.82 4.65 14.92
7 54 6.34 10.47 25.39
8 97 11.38 18.80 44.19
9 104 12.21 20.16 64.34
10 Very Satisfied 184 21.60 35.66 100.00
missings 336 39.44
total N=852 · valid N=516 · x̄=8.25 · σ=2.05
Satisfaction with the ‘FlexPlan Study Monthly Cost and Rebate Report’
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
1 Very Dissatisfied 19 2.23 2.52 2.52
2 20 2.35 2.66 5.18
3 25 2.93 3.32 8.50
4 22 2.58 2.92 11.42
5 84 9.86 11.16 22.58
6 57 6.69 7.57 30.15
7 103 12.09 13.68 43.82
8 128 15.02 17.00 60.82
9 100 11.74 13.28 74.10
10 Very Satisfied 195 22.89 25.90 100.00
missings 99 11.62
total N=852 · valid N=753 · x̄=7.41 · 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 5.28 5.98 5.98
2 Somewhat Dissatisfied 66 7.75 8.76 14.74
3 Slightly Dissatisfied 80 9.39 10.62 25.37
4 Slightly Satisfied 150 17.61 19.92 45.29
5 Somewhat Satisfied 276 32.39 36.65 81.94
6 Very Satisfied 136 15.96 18.06 100.00
missings 99 11.62
total N=852 · valid N=753 · x̄=4.27 · 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 59 6.92 7.04 7.04
2 Only slightly met my expectations 97 11.38 11.58 18.62
3 Somewhat met my expectations 196 23.00 23.39 42.00
4 Mostly met my expectations 262 30.75 31.26 73.27
5 Fully met my expectations 188 22.07 22.43 95.70
6 Exceeded my expectations 36 4.23 4.30 100.00
missings 14 1.64
total N=852 · valid N=838 · x̄=3.63 · 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) 590 69.25 81.94 81.94
2 I prefer the current Hydro One pricing plan (Bottom) 130 15.26 18.06 100.00
missings 132 15.49
total N=852 · valid N=720 · x̄=1.18 · σ=0.38
Conservation undertaken: percent of answers
Conservation actions n, responses raw % responses valid % responses cumulative % responses
Switched to more energy efficient or low wattage light bulbs 633 28.7 28.7 28.7
Switched to more energy efficient appliances 309 14.0 14.0 42.8
Installed lighting control products 248 11.3 11.3 54.0
Installed flow restricting shower head(s) 200 9.1 9.1 63.1
Retrofitted air-sealing 185 8.4 8.4 71.5
Upgraded your windows 157 7.1 7.1 78.7
Other 135 6.1 6.1 84.8
Insulated your ceilings, floors or walls 128 5.8 5.8 90.6
None 79 3.6 3.6 94.2
Installed water heater insulation 78 3.5 3.5 97.7
Installed programmable thermostats for electric baseboards 50 2.3 2.3 100.0
missings 0 0.0
total N=2202 · valid N=2202 · x̄=6.9 · σ=3.3

Sex
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
1 Male 426 50.00 53.65 53.65
2 Female 368 43.19 46.35 100.00
missings 58 6.81
total N=852 · valid N=794 · x̄=1.46 · σ=0.50
2016 total household income before taxes
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
1 Under $20,000 28 3.29 3.59 3.59
2 $20,000 to $39,999 78 9.15 9.99 13.57
3 $40,000 to $59,999 125 14.67 16.01 29.58
4 $60,000 to $79,999 114 13.38 14.60 44.17
5 $80,000 to $99,999 117 13.73 14.98 59.15
6 $100,000 to $124,999 122 14.32 15.62 74.78
7 $125,000 to $150,000 73 8.57 9.35 84.12
8 Over $150,000 124 14.55 15.88 100.00
missings 71 8.33
total N=852 · valid N=781 · x̄=4.91 · σ=2.05