Residential Feedback Study in Partnership with the University of Waterloo

Today’s rising electricity prices and the environmental concerns associated with electricity generation affect all Ontarians, including the residents of Milton. In an effort to understand the tools that Milton residents need to better conserve electricity, Milton Hydro has developed a partnership with researchers from the University of Waterloo. Throughout the summer of 2006 we conducted a collaborative study to determine whether providing households with specific information about their electricity usage can be useful in helping residents conserve.

Past experience has shown that household-specific electricity use information can be beneficial in helping customers conserve by helping them understand how their activities relate to their electricity consumption. As the province moves towards the implementation of Smart Meters, it is important to understand how to best use and present the detailed information that these new meters provide so as to maximize customer benefit.

Residents who were interested in taking part in the study responded to an initial survey that solicited information about their home and appliances. In late July, participants then began to receive information sheets about their home’s weekly electricity consumption patterns, typical appliance usage levels, and simple suggestions for saving electricity. Residents were encouraged to adopt these suggests, and look for the results in the next week’s information sheet. In October, study participants were provided with a final survey so that they could provide feedback as to the usefulness of the information they received.

Sample Comparative Feedback Sheet
Sample Historic Feedback Sheet