New experimental electricity tariff systems for houshold end use

Maarten Wolsink, Department of Environmental Science, University of Amsterdam

Abstract

A significant tool in Demand Side Management is the structure of tariffs. Price incentives can be directed at different parts of the efficiency-concept: efficiency in capacity planning, efficiency in total electricity consumption, efficiency in total fossil fuel use, efficiency in total energy demand. The tariff system, which is currently used in the Netherlands, does not give proper price incentives for end-user efficiency. In particular total electricity demand is rather stimulated, which is somewhat dampened by the introduction of the eco-tax.

In the Netherlands field experiments with tariff systems directed at influencing household electricity demand were carried out by five utilities. In the experiments differentiated tariff-variants were introduced, replacing the old tariff-system. The experiments included voluntary price differentiation, which introduced a free-rider problem in combination with the chosen price levels. Furthermore remote-monitoring, feedback, special peak-pricing etc. were implemented in the experiments. Some interesting options, in particular those influencing total demand, were not implemented by utilities. The reasons for it should be categorized as strategicƒ and part of the utilitiesƒ policy.