For Exercises 3.42 to 3.44, see pages 144–145; for 3.45, see page 146; for 3.46 and 3.47, see page 147; for 3.48 and 3.49, see page 150; for 3.50 and 3.51, see page 152; for 3.52, see page 153; for 3.53 and 3.54, see page 154; and for 3.55, see page 156.

Question 3.50

3.50 Utility companies.

Example 3.19 (page 147) describes an experiment to learn whether providing households with electronic meters or charts will reduce their electricity consumption. An executive of the utility company objects to including a control group. He says, β€œIt would be simpler to just compare electricity use last year (before the meter or chart was provided) with consumption in the same period this year. If households use less electricity this year, the meter or chart must be working.” Explain clearly why this design is inferior to that in Example 3.19.