Hall, S orcid.org/0000-0002-1558-7081, Anable, J orcid.org/0000-0002-4259-1641, Hardy, J et al. (3 more authors) (2021) Matching consumer segments to innovative utility business models. Nature Energy, 6 (1). pp. 349-361. ISSN 2058-7546
Abstract
Energy as a service, smart home opportunities and electrification of heat and transport can lead to new ways of switching supplier or choosing new energy contracts. Here, we used business model collaboration workshops to create archetypes of new utility business models, which were then tested with a representative sample of British energy consumers to explore their attractiveness to different segments of society. We show that some of these segments have a substantial appetite for new business models. However, the segments that choose these models are more likely to be affluent, educated homeowners. Without intervention, innovation in utility business models risks exacerbating existing social inequalities, as lower incomes, lower home ownership and low education result in lower preferences for, or no ability to engage with, new utility business models. We also find that institutional trust beyond the energy sector is a key driver of consumer segmentation.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited 2021, corrected publication 2021. This is an author produced version of an article published in Nature Energy. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > Institute for Transport Studies (Leeds) > ITS: Sustainable Transport Policy (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) > Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) EP/L024756/1 EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) EP/S029575/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 27 Jan 2021 15:59 |
Last Modified: | 01 Sep 2021 00:39 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Nature Research |
Identification Number: | 10.1038/s41560-021-00781-1 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:170298 |
Commentary/Response Threads
- Hall, S, Anable, J, Hardy, J, Workman, M, Mazur, C and Matthews, Y Matching consumer segments to innovative utility business models. (deposited 27 Jan 2021 15:59) [Currently Displayed]