The Potential for Segmentation of the Retail Market for Electricity in Ireland. ESRI Research Bulletin 2013/3/1

Using data from the Smart Metering Consumer Behaviour Trial carried out by the Commission for Energy Regulation, we investigate whether the availability of real-time electricity use data will allow electricity supply companies to identify and target their most profitable consumers. As the wholesale price of electricity varies sharply over the diurnal cycle, profitability will also fluctuate throughout the day. At present the typical electricity supply company knows its customers’ monthly use, thus the availability of half-hourly electricity-use data via smart metering devices would constitute a revolution in data availability