A field experiment on energy conservation using self-selection and stated preferences

The payment conditions for the DP rewards in this experiment are as follows: the amount paid during the event period calculated at the base price (30 yen/kWh) for participants who received the treatment, and the amount paid during the event period calculated at the DP (peak: 100 yen/kWh, off-peak: 10 yen/kWh). The difference between the two is the reward for saving electricity (maximum: points worth 2,000 yen). However, suppose the difference between the amount paid during the event period calculated at the base price and the amount paid during the event period calculated at each DP is negative. In this case, the reward for saving electricity is zero.

2024-08-22

2024-12-22

Electricity consumption

【Survey 1】
In conjunction with a web-based research company, we surveyed monitors to obtain household demographics such as gender, age, and income of household members and their use of household appliances. The survey was conducted online through a web-based research company. At the beginning of the study, we asked for their consent to participate in this research experiment. Only those who agreed to participate will be included in the following experiments. In addition, we will reward the experiment participants for their participation in this survey and the subsequent experiments and surveys.

[Experiment]
[1] Randomization 1:
We randomly divided the observers of a survey company (3,500 households) who had agreed to participate in the experiment in Survey 1 above into two groups. Participants assigned to each group are informed in advance of the event's duration, the treatment's details, and the payment terms for the rewards, and each chooses whether or not to participate in the treatment. The details of each group are as follows.
1 Stated preference regime:
Subjects allocated to this group express whether or not they wish to receive the DP treatment. When expressing their preferences, subjects are informed that their subsequent allocation probabilities will change based on their preferences.
2 Opt-in regime:
Subjects assigned to this group choose whether or not to receive the DP treatment. The actual allocation of treatment is based on the subject's choice.

[2] Randomization 2:
Subjects in the stated preference regime will be randomized into two groups based on the preference expressed at randomization 1. Subjects who expressed a preference for DP treatment have a 75% chance of receiving DP treatment and a 25% chance of being assigned to no treatment. Subjects who expressed a preference not to receive DP treatment have a 25% chance of receiving DP treatment and a 75% chance of being assigned to no treatment. Under these protocols, subjects are divided into the following six groups.

Table 1
Randomization 1 Preference for DP Randomization 2 final quota
1 Stated preference ○ Treatment Treatment
2 Stated preference ○ No treatment No treatment
3 Stated preference × Treatment Treatment
4 Stated preference × No treatment No treatment
5 Opt-in ○ - Treatment
6 Opt-in × - No treatment
Note: "Preference for DP" in the table indicates that ○ indicates a preference for treatment by DP and × indicates no preference for treatment by DP.

Once the final allocation decisions have been made, each group participant will be notified of their group's allocation and prices for the following day and beyond by the evening before the event.

We will receive the participants' electricity consumption data (HEMS data: July-August 2024, November-December 2024) for the event period and the pre-event period from the monitoring company; HEMS data is electricity consumption measured at 30-minute intervals in each household by smart meters installed in each household. The payment terms for the DP rewards in this experiment are as follows.

The DP treatment applies only to those who eventually receive the DP treatment as a result of the above procedure. The payment conditions for the DP rewards in this experiment are as follows: the amount paid during the event period calculated at the base price (30 yen/kWh) for participants who received the treatment, and the amount paid during the event period calculated at the DP (peak: 100 yen/kWh, off-peak: 10 yen/kWh). The difference between the two is the reward for saving electricity (maximum: points worth 2,000 yen). However, suppose the difference between the amount paid during the event period calculated at the base price and the amount paid during the event period calculated at each DP is negative. In this case, the reward for saving electricity is zero.

【Survey 2】
A survey will be carried out on all the people mentioned above on specific dates (8th and 9th September 2024 and 13th and 14th January 2025), whether or not they are home. Respondents will receive 100 yen points as a reward for completing this survey.

randomization done in office by a computer

household

No

0

3,500 households

1,750 households for stated preference regime, 1,750 households for selfselection regime

AEA_RCT_registry_analysis_plan_ishihara_2024.docx