Developing the smarter grid: the role of domestic and small and medium sized enterprise customers
Overview
This report covers the aspects of the CLNR project that tested the level of flexibility customers can offer in how they generate and use electricity. It covers residential and small and medium enterprise (SME) customers and forms part of a part of a suite of comprehensive suite of high-level project learning outputs which are listed under related documents.
The key findings in relation to our residential and SME customer research are as follows:
Customer demand profiles – The analysis revealed a relatively consistent average demand profile across the different domestic demographic groups, with much higher variability within groups than between them.
Static time of use tariffs – Time of use tariffs (ToU) are popular with and easily understood by domestic customers, where the majority saved money (60%) and demand in the 4pm to 8pm peak was up to ca. 10% lower than the control group. Our trial provided a safety net for the 40% that did not save money, and they were guaranteed to pay no more than a standard flat tariff. However we do not know how our results would have changed if customers had not had the safety net provided with the trial.
Other interventions – The restricted hours and direct control trials tested customers’ willingness to a time-based restriction on the use of a smart heat pump or washing machine. The technology was proven, but the benefit from smart washing machines was limited and whilst the heat pumps successfully reduced peak load by 2.5 kW, there were technical issues and problems of customer acceptability.
This report is a draft for consultation and may be updated to reflect the outcomes of our consultation and peer review. The consultation period closes on 20th February 2015. For information on how to provide written feedback, please contact Liz Sidebotham on 0191 229 4242 or liz.sidebotham@northernpowergrid.com. The final version of this report will be issued by the end of March 2015
