Customer Risk from Real-Time Retail Electricity Pricing: Bill Volatility and Hedgability

B-Tier
Journal: The Energy Journal
Year: 2007
Volume: 28
Issue: 2
Pages: 111-130

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

One of the most critical concerns that customers have voiced in the debate over real-time retail electricity pricing is that they would be exposed to risk from fluctuations in their electricity cost. The concern seems to be that a customer could find itself consuming a large quantity of power on the day that prices skyrocket, resulting in a high monthly bill. I analyze the magnitude of this risk, using demand data from 1142 large industrial customers, and then ask how much of this risk can be eliminated through various straightforward financial instruments. I find that very simple hedging strategies—forward purchase contracts that are already used with many RTP programs—can eliminate more than 80% of the bill volatility that would otherwise occur. I then show that a slightly more sophisticated application of these forward power purchases can significantly enhance their effect on reducing bill volatility.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:sae:enejou:v:28:y:2007:i:2:p:111-130
Journal Field
Energy
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-24