Abstract

The Smart Metering Technology (SMT) is an essential building block of smart grids. It facilitates demand-reduction and -shifting and is supposed to trigger behavioral and economic changes in households’ energy consumption. While technology adoption in the workplace has been studied extensively, evidence as to residential settings is rather limited. Likewise, the IS-community has been reluctant in addressing issues regarding environmental sustainability. This study aims at bridging these gaps by investigating the factors influencing consumers’ intention to adopt the SMT. Building upon the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) we propose an interdisciplinary research model. The model was empirically tested using data collected from 284 potential adopters. The results implicate that apart from the major determinant attitude, intention is driven by secondary sources’ influence and environmental concerns. The findings will help refining researchers’ understanding of SMT-adoption and will be useful for all stakeholders interested in SMT-diffusion.

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Is It Money Or The Environment? An Empirical Analysis of Factors Influencing Consumers’ Intention to Adopt the Smart Metering Technology

The Smart Metering Technology (SMT) is an essential building block of smart grids. It facilitates demand-reduction and -shifting and is supposed to trigger behavioral and economic changes in households’ energy consumption. While technology adoption in the workplace has been studied extensively, evidence as to residential settings is rather limited. Likewise, the IS-community has been reluctant in addressing issues regarding environmental sustainability. This study aims at bridging these gaps by investigating the factors influencing consumers’ intention to adopt the SMT. Building upon the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) we propose an interdisciplinary research model. The model was empirically tested using data collected from 284 potential adopters. The results implicate that apart from the major determinant attitude, intention is driven by secondary sources’ influence and environmental concerns. The findings will help refining researchers’ understanding of SMT-adoption and will be useful for all stakeholders interested in SMT-diffusion.