It has been almost 30 years since the Northwest has conducted large-scale studies on how different types of residential and commercial customers use electricity – the Home Energy Metering Study (HEMS), launched in 2018, and the Commercial Energy Metering Study (CEMS), launched in 2019, aim to change this.
Existing residential energy use data is up to 30 years old and increasingly inaccurate. However, once collected this data will play a very important role in helping to design and deliver better energy efficiency programs to electricity customers. Other important uses include designing programs to reduce electricity use at times of peak demand and improving electricity demand forecasting. With the updated data collected through this project, the region can save millions of dollars on future energy investments and will help the region meet its clean energy goals. The studies will provide a better understanding of the regional impacts of energy efficiency for reducing energy use, lowering energy costs, and maintaining reliability of electric service under extreme weather conditions. They will result in a better understanding of how Northwest electricity customers use electricity on a day-today basis and allow more accurate forecasting of the need for future energy resources.
Why? An accurate assessment of the electricity use in the region can contribute to becoming more energy efficient, lowering energy costs, planning for future energy supplies, and continuing the reliability of electric service. These studies seek to help the entire region achieve its clean energy goals by more accurately identifying the role of energy efficiency in improving the environment, lowering costs of electric service, and saving money for Northwest electricity customers.
Why now? A need for a better understanding of electricity in the region has grown with changes in electric appliances, heating and cooling systems, water heating, and newer electricity uses like LED lighting and electric vehicles.
What’s involved? Over 400 Northwest households and approximately 100 commercial buildings will eventually be metered for the studies. The information collected will be completely confidential and no personally-identifying or company-identifying information will be shared.
This study is supported by:
