Christopher Schüle

Christopher Schüle is currently finishing his master's studies in Industrial Engineering and Management at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. The focus of his studies is on the energy industry.

Ambitious European and national targets in energy policy are leading to a radical change in the energy industry, which is primarily characterized by the expansion of renewable energies. Although electricity from different generation plants cannot be physically distinguished, end customers no longer perceive electricity tariffs as a homogeneous good. Surveys show that certain factors of electricity tariffs are valued by end consumers. In particular, the regionality of generation in Germany is a current and partly new topic from the perspective of energy suppliers. Since 2019, plant operators of renewable energy plants have had the option of demonstrating the regionality to the end consumer within the framework of electricity labeling using the regional verification register.

Christopher's master thesis will answer the following research question: "To what extent is the aspect of regionality a decisive product factor for the consumer preferences of the customers of the Stadtwerke Pforzheim with regard to the choice of electricity tariffs?"

To answer the research question, a Choice-based Conjoint analysis is to be conducted.