Domestic electricity consumption: The influence of household fluidity on domestic electricity consumption.

Abstract

UK households today are transient, subject to change and are therefore ‘fluid’ in nature, prompting the need for research into the dynamics of household fluidity and its influence upon domestic electricity consumption.
Fluidity may be planned or brought about by unexpected events. Fluidity can be the result of divorce or separation, birth(s), illness, death(s), amongst other changing circumstances. Fluid households and their occupants often find themselves adapting to change which is reflected in alterations to their electricity consumption; a reactive by-product of such change to meet the demands of revised living arrangements or technical infrastructure within the household.
The research adopts a multi-method approach capturing qualitative and quantitative data from participating households during 2012-2013 and is designed to answer four central questions: What are the characteristics of fluid households? What impact does household fluidity have upon domestic electricity consumption? Does household fluidity restrict or enable a household to be flexible in its electricity consumption? What are the implications of fluid households for future domestic electricity network planning and management?

Empirical data generated from interviews and electricity consumption are presented in the form of eight case studies. Each case study provides insight into the nature and extent of fluidity and transitional flux that can exist within UK households. The findings contribute to an improved understanding of the implications of household fluidity upon domestic electricity consumption, sustainability of low carbon technologies, and their implications for network planning and management.

This research was undertaken as part of a broader Low Carbon Network Fund (LCNF) programme entitled the Customer Led Network Revolution: www.networkrevolution.co.uk