From willingness to usable energy data

This discussion paper describes a feasibility study within the probability-based LISS panel into respondents' willingness to donate energy insights and the usability of the donated data for official statistics.

With this study we quantified (i) access to energy consumption insights (apps, websites, in‐home displays, emails, and self‐tracking), (ii) willingness to donate those insights under randomized incentives (€5/€10/€15), and (iii) completion and minimum usability of donated material. Most respondents reported having access to some form of energy insight; only 19.7% reported having none. Among respondents with at least one insight method, 35.5% indicated willingness to donate and willingness increased with higher incentives. However, substantial attrition occurred between willingness, successful donation, and provision of data that met minimum requirements (at least seven days with at least daily frequency), yielding 270 minimally usable donations. Among these, 87.8% provided consumption in energy units (kWh for electricity; m3 for gas), while the remainder provided values in euros, and two‐thirds required extracting values from graphs. Finally, among smart‐meter owners, 27.1% stated willingness to install a dongle (hypothetical scenario), with no evidence of an effect of the requested period or incentive. The findings illustrate a central challenge in data donation for official statistics: participation is only the first hurdle; donation success and measurement usability require targeted design choices, respondent support, and quality control.

Kompier, M.E., Bakker, J., Mulder, J. & Kieruj, N. (2026). From willingness to usable energy data: a feasibility study of energy insight data donation in a probability‐based panel. Discussion paper, Statistics Netherlands, Heerlen.

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