This is a Free article. You will receive access to the full text.

The Price Elasticity of Electricity Demand in the United States: A Three-Dimensional Analysis

Free Article

Abstract:
In this paper we employ a dataset of three dimensions - state, sector, and year - to estimate the short- and long-run price elasticities of state-level electricity demand in the United States. Our sample covers the period 2003-2015. We contribute to the literature by employing instrumental variable estimation approaches, using the between estimator, and pursuing panel specifications that enable us to control for multiple dimensions of fixed effects. We conclude that state-level electricity demand is very price inelastic in the short run, with a same-year elasticity of -0.1. The long-run elasticity is near -1, larger than often believed. Among the sectors, it is industry that has the largest long-run price elasticity of demand. This appears to in part be due to electricity-intensive industrial activities clustering in low-price states.

Download Executive Summary Download PDF

Energy Specializations: Electricity – Markets and Prices ; Energy Modeling – Sectoral Energy Demand & Technology

JEL Codes: Q42: Alternative Energy Sources, Q41: Energy: Demand and Supply; Prices, C51: Model Construction and Estimation, Q35: Hydrocarbon Resources

Keywords: electricity demand, price elasticity, United States, panel

DOI: 10.5547/01956574.39.2.pbur

References: Reference information is available for this article. Join IAEE, log in, or purchase the article to view reference data.

Published in Volume 39, Number 2 of the bi-monthly journal of the IAEE's Energy Economics Education Foundation.

 

© 2024 International Association for Energy Economics | Privacy Policy | Return Policy