The perverse impact of calling for energy conservation

J Holladay, Michael Price and Marianne Wanamaker ()

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2015, vol. 110, issue C, 1-18

Abstract: In periods of high energy demand, utilities frequently issue “emergency” appeals for conservation over peak hours to reduce brownout risk. We estimate the impact of such appeals using high-frequency data on actual and forecasted electricity generation, pollutant emission measures, and real-time prices. Our results suggest a perverse impact; while there is no significant reduction in grid stress over superpeak hours, such calls lead to increased off-peak generation, CO2 emissions, and price volatility. We postulate that consumer attempts at load shifting lead to this result.

Keywords: Energy demand; Air pollution; Conservation; Media (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D8 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Related works:
Working Paper: The Perverse Impact of Calling for Energy Conservation (2014)
Working Paper: The Perverse Impact of Calling for Energy Conservation (2014)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:110:y:2015:i:c:p:1-18

DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2014.11.008

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