title: Moving from outsider to insider: peer status and partnerships between electricity utilities and residential consumers.
abstract: An electricity demand reduction project based on comprehensive residential consumer engagement was established within an Australian community in 2008. By 2011, both the peak demand and grid supplied electricity consumption had decreased to below pre-intervention levels. This case study research explored the relationship developed between the utility, community and individual consumer from the residential customer perspective through qualitative research of 22 residential households. It is proposed that an energy utility can be highly successful at peak demand reduction by becoming a community member and a peer to residential consumers and developing the necessary trust, access, influence and partnership required to create the responsive environment to change. A peer-community approach could provide policymakers with a pathway for implementing pro-environmental behaviour for low carbon communities, as well as peak demand reduction, thereby addressing government emission targets while limiting the cost of living increases from infrastructure expenditure.
authors: School of Design, Creative Industries Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Morris
authors: School of Design, Creative Industries Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
authors: Laurie
authors: L
authors: Buys
authors: School of Electrical Engineer and Computer Science, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
authors: Desley
authors: D
authors: Vine
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003256:Community Participation; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004560:Electricity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010379:Peer Group; D011640:Public Policy; D012111:Residence Characteristics