@techreport{NBERw15386,
 title = "Evidence from Two Large Field Experiments that Peer Comparison Feedback Can Reduce Residential Energy Usage",
 author = "Ian Ayres and Sophie Raseman and Alice Shih",
 institution = "National Bureau of Economic Research",
 type = "Working Paper",
 series = "Working Paper Series",
 number = "15386",
 year = "2009",
 month = "September",
 URL = "http://www.nber.org/papers/w15386",
 abstract = {By providing feedback to customers on home electricity and natural gas usage with a focus on peer comparisons, utilities can reduce energy consumption at a low cost. We analyze data from two large-scale, random-assignment field experiments conducted by utility companies providing electricity (the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)) and electricity and natural gas (Puget Sound Energy (PSE)), in partnership with a private company, Positive Energy/oPower, which provides monthly or quarterly mailed peer feedback reports to customers. We find reductions in energy consumption of 1.2% (PSE) to 2.1% percent (SMUD), with the decrease sustained over time (seven months (PSE) and twelve months (SMUD)).},
}