March 2022

IZA DP No. 15194: Which Households Respond to Electricity Peak Pricing amid High Levels of Electrification?

Cloé Garnache, Øystein Hernaes, Anders Gravir Imenes

We examine heterogeneity in Norwegian households' price responses to critical peak pricing (CPP) on electricity consumption, using a large-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT), high-frequency electricity data, and default enrollment. Increasing the grid transmission charge by 4,067% (corresponding to an increase in the electricity price by 1,242%) leads to a 12.5% reduction in consumption, and virtually eliminates the consumption "peak". In contrast to prior studies from less electrified countries, the effect is broad-based, and similar across income groups. These findings provide a unique lens into the effectiveness of demand-based policies, and their impact across household groups, in a more electrified future.