Nudging Residents' Peak Power-Saving Behavior: A Field Experiment in China

Last registered on June 24, 2024
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Nudging Residents' Peak Power-Saving Behavior: A Field Experiment in China
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0013804
Initial registration date
June 13, 2024

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
June 24, 2024, 1:47 PM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

Country
China
Region
chongqing

Primary Investigator

Name
Jingyu Liang
Affiliation
Beijing Jiaotong University
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Yacan Wang
PI Affiliation
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PI Name
Juanjuan Meng
PI Affiliation
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PI Name
Siyu Wang
PI Affiliation
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Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2024-06-12
End date
2024-08-31
Keywords
Behavior, Environment & Energy
Additional Keywords
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
This study is based on the theory of nudging to design peak electricity-saving intervention messages. Different messages are sent to different experimental groups of users at a specific frequency in the name of the State Grid Corporation of China, aiming to reduce the load pressure on the power grid during peak periods and ensure the normal supply of electricity. We aim to measure the effectiveness of interventions on peak-hour electricity usage, and their spillover effects over time. We will also examine how the impact of nudging is affected by the temperature on the day of the nudging. The study will provide recommendations for power companies and residents on peak electricity-saving measures.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Liang, Jingyu et al. 2024. "Nudging Residents' Peak Power-Saving Behavior: A Field Experiment in China." AEA RCT Registry. June 24. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.13804-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Control No intervention
Ask Simply encourage users to reduce peak electricity usage by setting their AC temperature from 25°C to 26°C.
Self+Ask encourage users to reduce peak electricity usage by setting their AC temperature from 25°C to 26°C, and emphasize that this could save them hundreds of yuan in summer.
Social+Ask encourage users to reduce peak electricity usage by setting their AC temperature from 25°C to 26°C, and emphasize that this could help local economic development and the prosperity of the community.
Intervention Start Date
2024-06-15
Intervention End Date
2024-08-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
residential electricity consumption
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
This experiment is divided into two phases. Phase one (June 15 to July 15) involves fixed-date interventions, with intervention messages sent in batches at 10:00 AM every Saturday. There are a total of five Saturdays in this phase, resulting in five intervention days. Phase two (July 15 - August 31) involves peak-date interventions, with the number and content of interventions continuing the design from phase one. Participants are randomly divided into 20 groups, with different text messages sent on different intervention days.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Randomization done in office by a computer.
Randomization Unit
The subjects are 50,000 residents of Chongqing, China. They were first randomly divided into four groups, each corresponding to one of the four intervention contents. Then, they were further randomly divided into five groups, each corresponding to one of the five intervention days. Ultimately, they were randomly divided into a total of 20 groups.
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
50,000 residents of Chongqing, China
Sample size: planned number of observations
The daily electricity usage of 50,000 residents in Chongqing during the summer of 2024, with the specific time span still under negotiation.
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
12500 residents control
12500 residents Ask treatment
12500 residents Ask+Self treatment
12500 residents Ask+Social treatment
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials

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IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Peking University
IRB Approval Date
2024-06-02
IRB Approval Number
#2024-19
Analysis Plan

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials