Future Directions of Commercial Energy Research: a Utility Perspective

Historically power utilities have operated as regulated monopolies with steady growth patternsm Consumer response to the energy crisis in the early 19705 brought less accuracy to traditional forecastingm More recently, cheaper alternative fuel and Federal deregulation have ended the electric and gas utility monopolYm Customers are making different choices about fuel, co-generation, self-generation, equipment types, and conservation measures -all of which have an impact on energy use~ Utilities may know how to answer the energy use questions that have arisen during the last 10 years, but the environment has changedm It is becoming more important for utility planning to examine energy use from the customers· point of view~ This means discovering what the customers· needs are and what their likely choices 11 be~ The shift increased importance of customer orientation in planning created a need for more customer data0 In the last ten years 1; es have conducted mail surveys, on-site surveys, and even some use metering ectsa Data analysis has included end-use forecasting 1s, conditional demand analyses, load shape analysis, market research, and program planning and eval on~ These analyses, however, have only scratched the surface in providing the utility with necessary information about its customers~ analysis that answers one question spawns othersm Utilities operate in an increasingly competi ve market place~ Reliable data about such thi as customer choices, available alternatives, and penetration alternatives are cruci in order to survive in the increasingly ronment0 Now that utilities are realizing is possible, assess is needed, to ensure the highest ue for dollar FUTURE DIRECTIONS OF COMMERCIAL ENERGY RESEARCH: A UTILITY PERSPECTIVE Susan M. Buller Pacific Gas and Electric Company