The Utility Looks at Load Profiles of All-Electric Buildings

Abstract

It is becoming the standard both to heat and to cool occupied space in buildings. Electricity is used almost universally for cooling, and increasingly it is also used to heat. The integration of these loads with other power requirements is supplied by the utility. The magnitude and profile of the load determines the facilities needed by the utility. This paper supplies considerable data on the characteristics of electric heating and cooling loads. Due to the large internal heat gain of most commercial buildings, cooling must be supplied during relatively low outside temperatures. Correspondingly, heating is necessary over a relatively narrow temperature range. This factor results in considerable diversity between these loads and the utility system load. This diversity varies with both the hours of the day and days of the week. The geographic location and the magnitude of system heating and cooling loads will determine how representative the data presented are for any specific area. 37190.