Leveraging SmartMeter Data to Increase Customer Engagement and Reduce Energy Consumption
Since 2008, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has been installing millions of SmartMeters across Northern California for its residential gas and electricity customers. These meters measure and report electricity and gas use at daily, hourly, or 15 minute intervals, enabling customers to better understand their energy usage and find ways to save on their energy bills. For example, SmartMeters make it possible for PG&E to implement electricity rates that vary by time and provide customers with granular usage information that they can take action on. PG&E encourages research that will provide insight into how the SmartMeter platform might be used to engage customers, reduce energy consumption, and offer customers appealing alternative pricing schemes.
The data will include energy usage for 30,000 residential customers across Northern California over 36 months—January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2011. Prior to SmartMeter installation, customers’ energy usage is available on a monthly basis, and post-installation, at daily, hourly, or 15-minute intervals. In addition to energy usage data, information will be provided about energy efficiency rebates, demand response programs, and special rate plans that were available to these customers. The data also presents a unique opportunity for those who wish to study customer relationship management (CRM) practices in a novel setting. It will combine energy usage data with traditional CRM information such as billing, outbound marketing communications, call center interactions, help ticket submissions, and sociodemographic information.
Note: This Research Opportunity is closed for proposal submissions.
Research Teams
GRANTEES OF THE PG&E DATA:
DATA-DRIVEN ESTIMATION OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY RESOURCES
Sam Borgeson, UC Berkeley
Amir Kavousian, Stanford University
Duncan Callaway, UC Berkeley
Imran Sheikh, UC Berkeley
ENERGY DISAGGREGATION FROM SMART METER DATA: A CONTEXTUALLY SUPERVISED APPROACH
J. Zico Kolter, Carnegie Mellon University
Matt Wytock, Carnegie Mellon University
ENGAGING HOUSEHOLDS AND NEIGHBORHOODS WITH USER-SPECIFIC MESSAGES TO MAXIMIZE ENERGY CONSERVATION
Magali Delmas, UCLA
Stephen Locke, UCLA
Matthew E. Kahn, UCLA
Christian Blanco, UCLA
TARGETING HIGH-VALUE PARTICIPATION – ANALYSIS OF DEMAND-SIDE MANAGEMENT REBATE PROGRAMS
Russell Meyer, Carnegie Mellon University
Inês Azevedo, Carnegie Mellon University
Paul Fischbeck, Carnegie Mellon University
H. Scott Matthews, Carnegie Mellon University
Disclaimer
The Research Opportunity webinars are posted here for a research-focused audience and should not be quoted, paraphrased or otherwise utilized without written permission of AIAB. Any media inquiries or requests for quotes about the projects should be directed to wca-research@wharton.upenn.edu.
Company Note
For PG&E, protecting customers’ information and privacy is a top priority. PG&E takes extensive measures to ensure the integrity of our systems and to secure and protect customers and customer data. Contractors acting on PG&E’s behalf are required to comply with our privacy policy.