Smart Grid Fund Electricity Pilot

Findings from Survey 2

Preliminary findings, 1:44PM 29may17

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 66 7.60 7.60 7.60
Complete 802 92.40 92.40 100.00
missings 0 0.00
total N=868 · valid N=868 · x̄=1.92 · σ=0.27
egroup
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
Experiment: No feedback 293 33.76 33.76 33.76
Experiment: IHD, No Energate 237 27.30 27.30 61.06
Experiment: IHD + PlotWatt, No Energate 247 28.46 28.46 89.52
Control: No feedback 34 3.92 3.92 93.43
Control: IHD, No Energate 25 2.88 2.88 96.31
Control: IHD + PlotWatt, No Energate 32 3.69 3.69 100.00
missings 0 0.00
total N=868 · valid N=868 · x̄=2.26 · σ=1.25
group
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
Experiment: No feedback 281 32.37 32.37 32.37
Experiment: IHD, No Energate 225 25.92 25.92 58.29
Experiment: IHD + PlotWatt, No Energate 232 26.73 26.73 85.02
Control: No feedback 34 3.92 3.92 88.94
Control: IHD, No Energate 22 2.53 2.53 91.47
Control: IHD + PlotWatt, No Energate 31 3.57 3.57 95.05
Dropped out of pilot 43 4.95 4.95 100.00
missings 0 0.00
total N=868 · valid N=868 · x̄=2.49 · σ=1.60

Rate Groups

rategroup
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
R1 376 43.32 43.32 43.32
R2 423 48.73 48.73 92.05
UR 69 7.95 7.95 100.00
missings 0 0.00
total N=868 · valid N=868 · x̄=1.65 · σ=0.62

Treatment Groups

treatment
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
H1 TOU 66 7.60 8.49 8.49
TOU1 70 8.06 9.01 17.50
TOU2 73 8.41 9.40 26.90
TOU3 73 8.41 9.40 36.29
TOU4 64 7.37 8.24 44.53
TOU5 65 7.49 8.37 52.90
TOU6 61 7.03 7.85 60.75
VPP/CPP7 56 6.45 7.21 67.95
VPP/CPP8 58 6.68 7.46 75.42
VPP/CPP9 66 7.60 8.49 83.91
VPP/CPP10 58 6.68 7.46 91.38
RTP11 67 7.72 8.62 100.00
missings 91 10.48
total N=868 · valid N=777 · x̄=6.34 · σ=3.48

Customer responses to survey questions

Conservation Efforts
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
Less electricity used 310 35.71 36.26 36.26
About the same electricity 526 60.60 61.52 97.78
More electricity used 19 2.19 2.22 100.00
missings 13 1.50
total N=868 · valid N=855 · x̄=1.66 · σ=0.52

Shifting electricity

Shifting Efforts
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
Yes I have shifted electricity usage 665 76.61 77.78 77.78
No I have not shifted electricity usage 190 21.89 22.22 100.00
missings 13 1.50
total N=868 · valid N=855 · 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 90 10.37 10.54 10.54
Reasonably hard 470 54.15 55.04 65.57
Only a little 262 30.18 30.68 96.25
We did not work at all to save electricity 32 3.69 3.75 100.00
missings 14 1.61
total N=868 · valid N=854 · x̄=2.28 · σ=0.70

Notifications from McMaster regarding savings

Notifications from McMaster regarding savings
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
Never 98 11.29 12.83 12.83
Once 40 4.61 5.24 18.06
Twice 104 11.98 13.61 31.68
Three times 131 15.09 17.15 48.82
Four times 129 14.86 16.88 65.71
Five times 74 8.53 9.69 75.39
Six times 188 21.66 24.61 100.00
missings 104 11.98
total N=868 · valid N=764 · x̄=4.48 · σ=2.01

Satisfaction with dimensions of the pilot

Satisfaction with amount saved during FlexPlan pilot
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
1 Very Dissatisfied 46 5.30 5.62 5.62
2 38 4.38 4.65 10.27
3 52 5.99 6.36 16.63
4 51 5.88 6.23 22.86
5 145 16.71 17.73 40.59
6 82 9.45 10.02 50.61
7 111 12.79 13.57 64.18
8 115 13.25 14.06 78.24
9 55 6.34 6.72 84.96
10 Very Satisfied 123 14.17 15.04 100.00
missings 50 5.76
total N=868 · valid N=818 · x̄=6.26 · σ=2.61
Satisfaction with FlexPlan electricity pilot overall
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
1 Very Dissatisfied 28 3.23 3.42 3.42
2 29 3.34 3.55 6.97
3 45 5.18 5.50 12.47
4 29 3.34 3.55 16.01
5 111 12.79 13.57 29.58
6 65 7.49 7.95 37.53
7 113 13.02 13.81 51.34
8 146 16.82 17.85 69.19
9 80 9.22 9.78 78.97
10 Very Satisfied 172 19.82 21.03 100.00
missings 50 5.76
total N=868 · valid N=818 · x̄=6.94 · σ=2.53
Satisfaction with management of the FlexPlan electricity pilot by McMaster University
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
1 Very Dissatisfied 19 2.19 2.32 2.32
2 19 2.19 2.32 4.65
3 25 2.88 3.06 7.70
4 29 3.34 3.55 11.25
5 84 9.68 10.27 21.52
6 55 6.34 6.72 28.24
7 112 12.90 13.69 41.93
8 165 19.01 20.17 62.10
9 106 12.21 12.96 75.06
10 Very Satisfied 204 23.50 24.94 100.00
missings 50 5.76
total N=868 · valid N=818 · x̄=7.45 · σ=2.34
Satisfaction with installation procedure at the beginning of the FlexPlan electricity pilot
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
1 Very Dissatisfied 10 1.15 1.90 1.90
2 2 0.23 0.38 2.28
3 11 1.27 2.09 4.37
4 14 1.61 2.66 7.03
5 18 2.07 3.42 10.46
6 24 2.76 4.56 15.02
7 54 6.22 10.27 25.29
8 99 11.41 18.82 44.11
9 106 12.21 20.15 64.26
10 Very Satisfied 188 21.66 35.74 100.00
missings 342 39.40
total N=868 · valid N=526 · 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 2.19 2.49 2.49
2 20 2.30 2.62 5.10
3 25 2.88 3.27 8.38
4 23 2.65 3.01 11.39
5 88 10.14 11.52 22.91
6 57 6.57 7.46 30.37
7 103 11.87 13.48 43.85
8 129 14.86 16.88 60.73
9 102 11.75 13.35 74.08
10 Very Satisfied 198 22.81 25.92 100.00
missings 104 11.98
total N=868 · valid N=764 · 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 46 5.30 6.02 6.02
2 Somewhat Dissatisfied 67 7.72 8.77 14.79
3 Slightly Dissatisfied 82 9.45 10.73 25.52
4 Slightly Satisfied 152 17.51 19.90 45.42
5 Somewhat Satisfied 278 32.03 36.39 81.81
6 Very Satisfied 139 16.01 18.19 100.00
missings 104 11.98
total N=868 · valid N=764 · x̄=4.26 · 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 6.80 6.95 6.95
2 Only slightly met my expectations 97 11.18 11.43 18.37
3 Somewhat met my expectations 200 23.04 23.56 41.93
4 Mostly met my expectations 265 30.53 31.21 73.14
5 Fully met my expectations 191 22.00 22.50 95.64
6 Exceeded my expectations 37 4.26 4.36 100.00
missings 19 2.19
total N=868 · valid N=849 · x̄=3.64 · 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) 598 68.89 82.03 82.03
2 I prefer the current Hydro One pricing plan (Bottom) 131 15.09 17.97 100.00
missings 139 16.01
total N=868 · valid N=729 · 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 640 28.8 28.8 28.8
Switched to more energy efficient appliances 312 14.0 14.0 42.8
Installed lighting control products 250 11.2 11.2 54.0
Installed flow restricting shower head(s) 203 9.1 9.1 63.2
Retrofitted air-sealing 186 8.4 8.4 71.5
Upgraded your windows 159 7.1 7.1 78.7
Other 137 6.2 6.2 84.8
Insulated your ceilings, floors or walls 128 5.8 5.8 90.6
Installed water heater insulation 80 3.6 3.6 94.2
None 79 3.6 3.6 97.8
Installed programmable thermostats for electric baseboards 50 2.2 2.2 100.0
missings 0 0.0
total N=2224 · valid N=2224 · x̄=6.9 · σ=3.3

Sex
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
1 Male 433 49.88 53.99 53.99
2 Female 369 42.51 46.01 100.00
missings 66 7.60
total N=868 · valid N=802 · x̄=1.46 · σ=0.50
2016 total household income before taxes
value N raw % valid % cumulative %
1 Under $20,000 28 3.23 3.55 3.55
2 $20,000 to $39,999 80 9.22 10.14 13.69
3 $40,000 to $59,999 125 14.40 15.84 29.53
4 $60,000 to $79,999 116 13.36 14.70 44.23
5 $80,000 to $99,999 119 13.71 15.08 59.32
6 $100,000 to $124,999 123 14.17 15.59 74.90
7 $125,000 to $150,000 74 8.53 9.38 84.28
8 Over $150,000 124 14.29 15.72 100.00
missings 79 9.10
total N=868 · valid N=789 · x̄=4.90 · σ=2.05