A new study by EPIcenter affiliate, Dr. Mamkhezri, investigates how and when households read their electricity bills, and what it means for residential energy consumption in the U.S.
Dr. Mamkhezri surveys more than 1,000 households to understand how frequently they check their electricity bills, and how this varies across households by age, family size, consumption level, and other factors. Perhaps surprisingly, he finds that 30% of survey respondents never check their electricity bill, and less than half check their bills monthly. More key takeaways from his research are highlighted below.
Dr. Mamkhezri’s research has important implications for energy policy and utility program design. He demonstrates that consumer engagement with electricity pricing is shaped not only by economic factors but also by behavioral and demographic dynamics. The limited impact of smart meter deployment on bill-checking behavior suggests that technology alone is insufficient; behavioral interventions—such as tailored feedback, goal-setting, and normative messaging—are necessary to drive meaningful change. Moreover, disparities in engagement among older adults, Black households, and rural residents highlight the need for focused strategies that address informational and other barriers. Understanding consumers’ sensitivity to utility bills can help design targeted outreach to improve energy awareness and conservation outcomes.
This summary was written with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot on August 14th, 2025. Its content was edited and verified by EPIcenter staff and affiliates. The podcast was created with Google NotebookLM, August 14th, 2025
To learn more, listen to the podcast, read the paper (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2025.104271), or contact the us (epicenter@gatech.edu – which we can then forward to the faculty).
KEY TAKEAWAYS
1. Policy Evaluation Should Include Behavioral Metrics
The study demonstrates that self-reported bill-checking behavior is a useful proxy for price sensitivity. This opens the door for new evaluation metrics in energy policy—beyond consumption and cost—such as bill engagement frequency, information retention, and behavioral responsiveness. These metrics can help assess the effectiveness of interventions like time-of-use pricing or energy literacy campaigns.
2. Energy Poverty Is Behavioral as Well as Economic
The paper highlights that energy poverty is not just about affordability—it’s also about engagement and awareness. Some groups (e.g., older adults, Black households, rural residents) are less likely to monitor their bills, which may exacerbate their financial strain. This implies that energy justice initiatives must address informational and behavioral barriers, not just income disparities.
3. Smart Technologies Alone Are Insufficient
Despite widespread deployment of smart meters, the study finds no automatic increase in bill engagement. This suggests that technology adoption must be paired with consumer education and behavioral interventions. Utilities and regulators should not assume that data availability leads to action; instead, they must design interfaces and programs that make data salient, actionable, and personalized.
4. Behavioral Economics Validates Policy Design
The study reinforces key behavioral economics theories—bounded rationality, rational inattention, and mental accounting—by showing that consumers do not always respond to price signals in predictable, rational ways. This suggests that traditional economic models may underestimate the complexity of household decision-making, and that behaviorally informed policies (e.g., nudges, feedback loops) are essential for effective energy management.
4. Targeted Interventions Can Improve Efficiency
The findings enable segmentation of consumers based on bill sensitivity. For example, high-bill households and electric vehicle owners are more responsive and could benefit from dynamic pricing or real-time feedback. Low-engagement groups may need simplified billing formats, normative comparisons, or goal-setting programs.