We asked parties to contribute their ideas and thoughts on possible evaluation and study areas, and we discuss those contributions in the next section. Specific Metrics from the Next Steps ACR The Next Steps ACR asked parties to comment on four specific metrics: (i) Load shift from peak to off-peak usage associated with the pilot tariff; (ii) Change in the amount of energy used by the customer during peak and off-peak periods; (iii) change in the amount of water used by electric generation during peak and off-peak periods for power plant cooling; and (iv) utility load conditions and any curtailments associated with over-generation of renewables. The IOUs generally believe that it is possible that the two proposed metrics (load shift from peak to off-peak and change in customer’s peak and off-peak energy use) could be evaluated on a quantitative level if conditions were right, but that the information obtained might not be sufficient for robust statistical analysis. Indeed, PG&E recommended focusing on a qualitative approach to measurement of the pilot’s impacts. These could be gathered from surveys, focus groups, or a combination of those. Pilot participants could be asked about their satisfaction with the pilot rate and their understanding of the rate structure. In contrast, the last two proposed metrics used in electric generation and system impacts) require information that is not readily available to the IOUs. PG&E claims that the impact of retail pricing on the water used by generation in PG&E’s service territory is very limited. It points out that it would be possible to estimate these savings only if quantitative estimates of the shift in load as a result
We asked parties to contribute their ideas and thoughts on possible evaluation and study areas, and we discuss those contributions in the next section. Specific Metrics from the Next Steps ACR The Next Steps ACR asked parties to comment on four specific metrics: (i) Load shift from peak to off-peak usage associated with the pilot tariff; (ii) Change in the amount of energy used by the customer during peak and off-peak periods; (iii) change in the amount of water used by electric generation during peak and off-peak periods for power plant cooling; and (iv) utility load conditions and any curtailments associated with over-generation of renewables. The IOUs generally believe that it is possible that the two proposed metrics (load shift from peak to off-peak and change in customer’s peak and off-peak energy use) could be evaluated on a quantitative level if conditions were right, but that the information obtained might not be sufficient for robust statistical analysis. Indeed, PG&E recommended focusing on a qualitative approach to measurement of the pilot’s impacts. These could be gathered from surveys, focus groups, or a combination of those. Pilot participants could be asked about their satisfaction with the pilot rate and their understanding of the rate structure. In contrast, the last two proposed metrics used in electric generation and system impacts) require information that is not readily available to the IOUs. PG&E claims that the impact of retail pricing on the water used by generation in PG&E’s service territory is very limited. It points out that it would be possible to estimate these savings only if quantitative estimates of the shift in load as a result
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