The customer acceptance is a crucial factor and could be enhanced through education and
information. The information should be adjusted according to the awareness of different
drivers for the customers, environmental concern is for instance an important driver.
Education about the system; the pricing model, use of appliances etc. is important both for
customer acceptance and for ensuring that the system will work as intended.
The visualisation of electricity use and costs is also identified as a successful feature; making
customers aware of their electricity consumption and the associated costs would both
facilitate load flexibility and encourage energy efficiency overall, which would then mean that
all three targets in the EU 20/20/20 goal are addressed. It appears favourable to use in-home
displays instead of a web portal.
The use of a social media where the participants can discuss the demand side management
system is another successful element. This allows the customers to exchange ideas and help
each other and provides insight about how the system is perceived by the customers.
Indirect control of electricity use seems favourable for encouraging the customers to take an
active part in achieving load flexibility. Direct control on the other hand seems more
favourable for achieving the largest load shifting during peak demand.
One main finding is that hourly metering is seen as a prerequisite for demand side
management. Heat pumps appears to be especially suitable for demand side management.
Close cooperation with the industry and to organise larger groups of PhD students and
researchers is identified as success factors for smart grid projects.