HIGH GAS PRICE CUTS U.S. POWER USE

New Study Identifies Gas Price Increases Curb U.S. Electricity Consumption
May 26, 2011 (ZPryme)

"…[A] new Zpryme study sponsored by Itron, Inc., The New Energy Consumer…surveyed 1,082 home owners or renters age 18 – 75 across the U.S…found that recent gasoline price surges made 76.5% of respondents more sensitive to electricity prices…[and] many of those same respondents had already taken energy efficiency actions in their households…

"The study…looked at energy consumption attitudes and perceptions by consumers, the smart grid communication networks and enterprise systems for U.S. utilities in the U.S…[and includes a] New Energy Consumer Survey, Smart Grid Architecture Market Analysis, [and an] Itron Q&A..."

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"Other findings…[1] 70% of home owners and 66.8% of renters rated their utility as good or outstanding…[2] More people monitor/manage their electricity usage on a monthly basis than any other time period…[3] The highest rated potential benefit of the smart grid was saving money; the biggest concern was the cost to build it…

"…[4] 94% of all respondents said it was important for utilities to have the most advanced communications technology to increase energy efficiency and prevent power outages;
however, only 22.0% said they wouldn’t mind paying slightly higher rates over a short time period to fund such technology for utilities…[and,5] Residents who said they wouldn’t mind paying higher rates for electricity from renewable sources tended to be male, renters, young, and with higher incomes…"