The inequality in household electricity consumption due to temperature change: Data driven analysis with a function-on-function linear model

Abstract

This paper constructs a function-on-function linear model that identifies the unknown comprehensive response of household electricity consumption toward temperature changes from a data-driven perspective. We also analyze the contribution of dynamic temperature changes to electricity consumption inequality based on large-scale smart meter data. Specifically, we use the Gini index, which characterizes electricity consumption inequality, to explore the heterogeneity of household behaviors. The results show that extreme temperatures will significantly affect household electricity consumption, and the response inertia is approximately 48 days. The response inertia is mainly affected by the household electricity consumption scale. The inertia of large electricity users is four times that of small users. This response inertia difference leads to the occurrence of household electricity consumption inequity inequality in a relatively narrow time window of approximately 18 days. The results also reveal that extreme temperature fluctuations play a key role in enlarging this inequality.