The Impact of Special Requirements on the Estimation of Electrical Demand

Estimating electrical demand in 15—30-minute intervals plays a crucial role in the determination of electric utility rates and the planning functions of utility companies. In order to achieve accurate estimation results, the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 specifies requirements that are unique to this estimation problem. This study investigates the impact of these requirements on estimation effectiveness. The results indicate that these requirements fail to achieve their purpose. The study also notes the importance of addressing the form of the underlying population of electrical demand.