Customizing the development of long-range load projections for electrical utility planning studies

Load growth, or the lack thereof, has a profound affect on proper electrical system planning. Some utilities grow in a fairly uniform, predictable fashion but most have a combination of areas with low or negative growth potential, areas where unpredictable large spot loads could occur, and areas evolving from rural to suburban with the characteristic "S" curve growth profile. Proper long-range planning requires different approaches for each type of load growth to achieve an economical and proper system design.