While the results may not yet be statistically significant, a small pilot study by National Grid suggests that targeted energy conservation messaging may be effective at reducing energy consumption during severe weather.
The pilot study with Colorado-based Copper Labs, which makes wireless real-time energy management systems, asked approximately 300 National Grid customers to install a plug-in unit in their home. Half of those homes received messages encouraging reduced energy use during a winter storm, and half didn’t—and the units measured the energy usage of both groups.
According to Mona Chandra, manager of National Grid’s demand response program, National Grid has operated demand response programs on the natural gas side of its operation since 2019. There are two program types: Incentivized programs rely on smart thermostats or use monitoring devices installed on customers’ meters, and the non-incentivized Behavioral Demand Response Program seeks to reduce natural gas usage by notifying customers of impending cold weather and suggesting methods of lowering consumption during those peak hours.
The pilot with Copper Labs—in which National Grid’s venture investment arm led a $2 million funding round in May 2021— sought to test the effectiveness of such messaging. In late January 2022, a heavy snowstorm in downstate New York gave them their chance.
During peak demand, messages were sent to a test group encouraging them to modify their behavior by doing things like reducing the heat, postponing showers or otherwise conserving natural gas. The control group received no messages.
The results of the pilot, released in October 2022, indicate that an 18% reduction in natural gas usage was observed from customers who received the messages. Now, National Grid is considering options to expand the number of customers participating in the pilot as well as ways of streamlining the enrollment process.
“We are currently exploring the feasibility of scaling our program at the neighborhood level as well as increasing our participation base by extending our program into disadvantaged communities and areas,” Chandra said.