A recent study by EPIcenter affiliates Brian An and John Kim and researchers at Georgia Tech, Iowa State University, and Clemson University examines how utility-level characteristics—such as ownership structure, electricity pricing, and incentive programs—shape residential electricity consumption in the Southeastern U.S. Using data from 105 electric utilities in Georgia and North Carolina, the authors analyze how governance models (investor-owned, municipal, cooperative), demographic factors, and program offerings interact to influence household energy use. 

The study finds that higher electricity rates and greater shares of college-educated residents are associated with lower household consumption, while larger homes, electric heating, and higher incomes drive usage upward. Notably, electric vehicle (EV) incentive programs correlate with increased household electricity demand—even after controlling for public charging infrastructure—suggesting these programs effectively promote EV adoption and at-home charging. In contrast, energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE) programs show no clear relationship with consumption in multivariate models. 

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