Energy end-use and efficiency measure load shape data.
Advancing detailed, reliable demand data for energy efficiency programs, grid reliability
As the US makes the largest single investment in grid modernization in its history, how well equipped the nation is to further energy efficiency, reduce energy bills and strengthen system reliability depends, in part, on the quality of consumer end-use information—including end-use and efficiency measure load shape data.
Technologies change and consumer behavior evolves. Much greater detail about regional differences, how much and when consumers use energy is needed to understand the changing consumer energy use profile. This information is an important aspect for effective energy efficiency program planning, grid reliability and empowering customers to make cost-effective energy-use decisions.
KEMA End-Use Load Data Update Project: Identifying the consumer energy use data gap
In a study sponsored by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s Regional Technical Forum (RTF) and the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership (NEEP) Evaluation Measurement and Verification (EM&V) Forum, KEMA identified existing gaps in and problems with energy end-use data used to support utility energy efficiency programs, electric capacity markets, and environmental policy.
KEMA’s “End-Use Load Data Update Project” assessed and catalogued the more recently completed existing end-use load research and load shape data studies that may be useful for the Northeast and Northwest regions of the US.
The resulting study found that in recent decades, efforts to gather end-use load data appear to be scattered and minimal across the Pacific Northwest and East regions. Although a significant amount of data was gathered in the Pacific Northwest in the mid-1980s through the early 1990s, confidence in the data has waned. The study also provided recommendations for specific end-uses and efficiency measure types to be prioritized for near-term metering efforts and improvement strategies.
Load forecasting: addressing the energy efficiency data gap
This study was motivated in part to help utility energy efficiency program administrators devise the most cost-effective plans for updating and acquiring end use load shape data to meet a variety of policy and program needs.
The End-Use Load Data Update Project final report “Phase 1: Cataloguing the Available End-Use and Efficiency Measure Load Data” includes recommendations for various strategies to meet immediate and short-term information needs—including establishing a protocol for ancillary data collection to facilitate data transferability and usability.
The report also offers longer-term recommendations to leverage advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) as it evolves.
Final recommendations include:
Near-term (up-to 12 months)
coordinate with specific metering studies identified
focus on specific end-uses and efficiency measure for new metering studies
pilot the transfer of end-use data from one region to another
develop detailed protocols for end-use data collection and transferability.
Mid-term (1 to 3 years)
implement multi-region end-use data repository
plan for other, non-metering studies
assess feasibility of disaggregating end-use information from AMI.
Long-term (>3 years)
The full report is available for download under the “Download” link menu to the right.