LAUSR

Abstract Peak demand reduction is a key element in demand management programs targeting the stabilization of the electricity grid. This study examines a field experiment in Austria that investigated rebates and non-monetary incentives to reduce household electricity consumption during evening peak demand times. The experiment was conducted on 1,257 Austrian households using a smart-phone application and smart-meter data recorded in 15-minutes intervals. Our results show the strongest behavioral change in households who received the monetary incentive, with only weak evidence of changes in the non-monetary treatment groups. Households reduced their consumption in response to the monetary incentive but were then subject to a substantial rebound effect whereby their electricity consumption increased overall.