Greenhouse Gas Reduction: Delivering Value to Commercial Customers with Load Shape Segmentation
Switching from fossil fuels to more efficient electric heating and transportation is essential to decarbonize Vermont and avoid the worst impacts of climate change. But that transition means an increased demand for electricity. Properly managing the timing of energy use and the power grid becomes even more essential in this increasingly electrified future. One way to achieve better grid management is by using advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) to understand patterns in energy use. In this whitepaper, we demonstrate that AMI data can be used to identify and group commercial customers with similar energy use patterns (load shape segmentation). This pinpoints untapped savings, finds customers well-suited to efficiency programs, and can be a first step in engaging customers who stand to most benefit from efficiency measures. Additionally, these patterns can target different components of a building’s load—systems like refrigeration, lighting, and HVAC, which can be constant, intermittent, or variable, depending on things like weather—to further focus participation in efficiency programs and increase overall savings. This all points to broadening the reach of Efficiency Vermont’s programs and engagement with customers while continuing to deliver savings and grid benefits.