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The city of Austin already does kind of a version of #2: https://savings.austinenergy.com/rebates/residential/learn/monitor-your-usage/smart-energy-savings htt

The city of Austin already does kind of a version of #2: https://savings.austinenergy.com/rebates/residential/learn/monitor-your-usage/smart-energy-savings https://savings.austinenergy.com/rebates/residential/learn/m... > What Is the Power Partner Program? > The Power Partner Program is a community-wide coordination of air conditioning usage that allows Austin Energy to manage energy use during peak summer days when it matters the most. > During a Power Partner event Austin Energy will adjust the temperature setting on your Internet-connected thermostat. Temperature adjustments up to four degrees reduce usage when the energy and cost savings are needed the most community-wide, yet do not significantly impact comfort. It's not market-based in the way you're talking about (real-time price being pushed through to the consumer), but it may be market-based in a different way. The same page goes on to say it "helps lower the overall cost of electricity in the community". So I assume the utility uses it to reduce how much electricity it has to buy at peak prices.

WalterBright 6y ago
It's a clumsy attempt to emulate what a market does. One telltale aspect of its clumsiness is the elastic use is confined to the A/C (I listed other avenues). A market based solution would use price, and let the consumer find the best way to adapt to it. Another complicated bit of clumsy silliness is cap-and-trade. The straightforward way is just tax the carbon.
dismalpedigree 6y ago
I had something similar offered by Duke Energy. They credited like $10/mo to be able to turn my AC off whenever they felt like it. It was terrible. You know when i want my AC the most? When its hot. And that is exactly when it would be disabled. That thing got removed within days.
- WalterBright 6y ago
  Turning off is a blunt instrument. A better approach is to set the thermostat higher.
  - dismalpedigree 6y ago
    It has the same effect. Its hot out. I want it not hot in my house.

WalterBright 6y ago

It's a clumsy attempt to emulate what a market does. One telltale aspect of its clumsiness is the elastic use is confined to the A/C (I listed other avenues). A market based solution would use price, and let the consumer find the best way to adapt to it. Another complicated bit of clumsy silliness is cap-and-trade. The straightforward way is just tax the carbon.

dismalpedigree 6y ago

I had something similar offered by Duke Energy. They credited like $10/mo to be able to turn my AC off whenever they felt like it. It was terrible. You know when i want my AC the most? When its hot. And that is exactly when it would be disabled. That thing got removed within days.

WalterBright 6y ago
Turning off is a blunt instrument. A better approach is to set the thermostat higher.
- dismalpedigree 6y ago
  It has the same effect. Its hot out. I want it not hot in my house.