An Appraisal of California Codes’ Impact on Residential Electricity Consumption

Abstract

In his talk, he will consider whether California energy policies implemented in the mid1970s influenced residential electricity consumption. Many studies of these policies have been done over the years. These studies are reviewed and a model of the state’s residential electricity consumption is developed based on an early study supporting policy development. A hindcast using this model suggests a 6 percent reduction in residential electricity in the first 10 years of the policy over a modeled counterfactual scenario without policy. In addition, a more complete assessment of causality which accounts for uncontrolled, non-policy factors that can also lower electricity consumption suggests this policy had a 36% chance of being necessary and a 30% chance of being sufficient.