Aggregate residential demand flexibility behavior: A novel assessment framework

Residential demand flexibility (DF) could save the U.S. electric grid up to 10 GW of peak demand while sup-porting increased amounts of renewable generation. However, less than 40% of the estimated DF peak reduction capacity is currently realized, and less than 8% of American households are enrolled. These low participation rates are combined with high rates of overriding a DF event and eventual opt-outs among enrolled customers. There is still not a comprehensive understanding of the drivers of DF participation and occupant interaction with DF program signals. We, therefore, present a novel survey processing framework to assess occupant DF-relevant behavior from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS). Using the framework, we summarize both the extensive and intensive behavior of more than 200,000 ATUS respondents (2003-2018 data) and provide insights on the DF-relevant behavior of residential occupants, which is generally overlooked in the literature. We use the framework to identify the activity priorities of residential occupants in the United States during different DF-relevant periods (critical peak, peak, and off-peak). These preferred activities capture overlooked routine be-haviors that could be barriers to DF participation, if ignored, and might explain the high levels of overrides often exhibited by participants of demand response.

Automated summary

Residential demand flexibility (DF) has potential to save up to 10 GW of peak demand on the U.S. electric grid, but current participation rates are low, with less than 40% of peak reduction capacity realized and less than 8% of households enrolled. Understanding the drivers and occupant interaction with DF program signals is lacking. This study presents a survey processing framework using data from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) to assess occupant DF-relevant behavior, providing insights into activity priorities during different DF-relevant periods.