A survey experimental study for increasing public support for various electricity pricing schemes via public trust in electric utility

Last registered on October 25, 2021

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
A survey experimental study for increasing public support for various electricity pricing schemes via public trust in electric utility
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0008367
Initial registration date
October 15, 2021

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
October 18, 2021, 9:36 AM EDT

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

Last updated
October 25, 2021, 8:47 PM EDT

Last updated is the most recent time when changes to the trial's registration were published.

Locations

Region

Primary Investigator

Affiliation
Seoul National University

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Affiliation
Seoul National University
PI Affiliation
Seoul National University
PI Affiliation
Seoul National University
PI Affiliation
Seoul National University

Additional Trial Information

Status
Completed
Start date
2021-10-12
End date
2021-10-22
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial is based on or builds upon one or more prior RCTs.
Abstract
We design the experiment to test whether and to what extent information about the electric utilities can change public support for various electricity pricing schemes that are designed and implemented by the organization via public trust in the organization. We use a 2 (competence-based information vs. no information) by 2 (integrity-based information vs. no information) between-subjects factorial design. Participants are randomly allocated to one of the four experimental conditions, each having a sample size of 1,125. Competence-based information is a statement about organizational experience and expertise in electric utility business, while integrity-based information is a statement about organizational honesty, openness, and concern for public interest. After receiving information, respondents read a brief description about four different types of electricity pricing schemes. Then, respondents are given a 5-point Likert-scale to gauge their support for each scheme, from strongly support to strongly oppose.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Choi, Syngjoo et al. 2021. "A survey experimental study for increasing public support for various electricity pricing schemes via public trust in electric utility." AEA RCT Registry. October 25. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.8367-1.1
Sponsors & Partners

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Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
There will be an information provision treatment that influences factors that may affect acceptance of the alternative electricity pricing schemes. The factors considered are (1) competence-based trust and (2) integrity-based trust for electric utilities. Competence-based information is a statement about organizational experience and expertise in electric utility business, while integrity-based information is a statement about organizational honesty, openness, and concern for public interest.
Intervention (Hidden)
There will be an information provision treatment that influences factors that may affect acceptance of the alternative electricity pricing schemes. The factors considered are (1) competence-based trust and (2) integrity-based trust for electric utilities. Competence-based information is a statement about organizational experience and expertise in electric utility business, while integrity-based information is a statement about organizational honesty, openness, and concern for public interest.
Intervention Start Date
2021-10-12
Intervention End Date
2021-10-22

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
After receiving information, respondents read a brief description about four different types of electricity pricing schemes: a fuel cost pass-through adjustment rate, a regional differential pricing, a time-of-use tariff, and net metering. Then, respondents are given a 5-point Likert-scale to gauge their support for each scheme, from strongly support to strongly oppose.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Perceived cost and benefit of the four different types of electricity pricing schemes (5-point Likert-scale)
Public trust in electric utilities (5-point Likert-scale)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
The treatment is conducted with a 2 x 2 factorial design. Participants are randomly assigned to one of the four groups: 1) control group, 2) competence-based trust group, 3) integrity-based trust group, and 4) both competence-based and integrity-based group, each having a sample size of 1,125.
Experimental Design Details
The treatment is conducted with a 2 x 2 factorial design. Participants are randomly assigned to one of the four groups: 1) control group, 2) competence-based trust group, 3) integrity-based trust group, and 4) both competence-based and integrity-based group, each having a sample size of 1,125.
Randomization Method
Randomization will be done in an office by a computer.
Randomization Unit
The randomization unit is individual.
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
4,500 people
Sample size: planned number of observations
4,500 people
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
The participants will be randomly assigned to either the control group (no information provision) or one of the three treatment groups. We plan to recruit 1,125 people per group.
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
We select a nationally representative sample of 4,500 electricity consumers aged 19 and above in South Korea. The number of samples was calculated based on a power level of 0.8 and a Cohen's d level of 0.2 under a significance level of 0.05. The minimum number of people per group to satisfy the criteria was estimated to be 400.
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Seoul National University Institutional Review Board
IRB Approval Date
2021-09-27
IRB Approval Number
2109/003-012
Analysis Plan

Analysis Plan Documents

Pre-Analysis Plan for “A survey experimental study for increasing public support for various electricity pricing schemes via public trust in electric utility”

MD5: aea35eb0eca45444fb4fe8aa52425a9d

SHA1: ee1bf99200dfa2f7e7e1b99b6a8371e928c664cb

Uploaded At: October 15, 2021

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