| 英文摘要: | To the Editor —
Sonja van Renssen1 sets out a compelling case for the adoption of demand-side management (DSM) in the energy sector. However, despite invoking 'people power', her appraisal of DSM does not address the important role of end users. If DSM's potential is to be met, then citizens must be considered alongside generators and distributors, policy makers, industrialists and technologists2.
Unless existing social roles are changed, considerable danger lies in DSM being implemented as a purely regulatory and technical innovation. Within the existing energy system, the end user is simply a consumer, energy being expended as an overwhelmingly invisible part of their daily lives3, 4. Their engagement with the energy system is limited to occasional — often poorly understood — bills, and their views of energy providers are marked by much distrust5. We believe that such an arrangement is poorly suited for the development of a smart grid using DSM, which fundamentally alters the part played by the end user, from a passive to an active role.
Certainly, some demand-response could be achieved in a manner that does not require the householder to be active, but examples, such as smart fridge-freezers that schedule cooling according to grid signals, are rare. Most DSM solutions require the householder to modify their practices to varying degrees. DSM advocates must then attend to the question of how this shift in role can best be achieved.
Demand-side management as set out by van Renssen assumes a reliance on demand-responsive pricing. Trials have demonstrated successful results; however, the vast majority have required end users to opt-in6, skewing results. One of the few large-scale non-voluntary schemes, run in northern Italy, actually resulted in increased energy use7. Furthermore, monetizing incentives can undermine 'social good' incentives that studies suggest can be highly effective8, 9. A final danger in relying on a consumer frame for DSM is highlighted by van Renssen's claim that “comfort [can] not be compromised.” In fact, perceptions of 'comfort' are constantly evolving, and fixing particular demands can unnecessarily exacerbate energy demand9, 10.
To harness people power, we must recognize power in terms of social agency, as well as physical forces, and approach users as energy citizens rather than consumers. One way this has already been achieved is when users become generators as well as consumers. Whether through privately- or community-owned renewables, this can be important in fostering a sense of agency; it also helps people perceive the grid as a shared resource11. The next step is to find further means of supporting such active engagement, giving people a real stake in the energy system. A smart grid that fails to recognize the value of smart users will be a missed opportunity. |