Every utility program that depends on customers changing their behavior rests on a heroic assumption about human nature.
The assumption: people will study their usage data, shift the dishwasher to 2 a.m., and pre-cool the house before the afternoon peak.
The reality: people are busy, distracted, and would rather watch one more episode than read a kilowatt-hour chart. I include myself. My thermostat has seen more negotiation than some trade deals, and I have never once won.
Even the tools meant to help customers act on their data do not always work. In Kentucky, a nonprofit coalition says the program meant to let customers share their usage data does not work.
We keep designing for the rational customer. The actual customer is a tired human who wants the lights on and the bill low.
That is the quiet advantage of long-duration energy storage. The savings are built into the system, not bolted onto the customer.
- It charges when power is cheap and plentiful, and discharges when demand peaks.
- It shaves the peaks that drive the most expensive generation and the biggest capacity costs.
- It captures surplus energy that would otherwise go to waste.
- It does this every day, whether or not anyone downloads anything.
No app. No nudges. No guilt. No good intentions required.
Behavior change is a hope. Grid optimization is a plan.
Sources:
Originally posted on LinkedIn.
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