Load Forecasting is the process of predicting how much electricity or other system capacity will be needed at a future time. It uses historical usage patterns along with factors such as weather, season, time of day, holidays, and changes in demand to estimate future consumption. Forecasts can cover short periods, such as the next few hours, or longer periods, such as months or years, depending on the planning requirement.
For example, an electricity provider can predict that power consumption will rise during a hot afternoon because more customers are expected to use air conditioning. This helps the provider prepare enough generation and distribution capacity to meet demand. Load Forecasting is widely used in energy management, power grids, manufacturing, data centers, transportation, and other operations where accurately anticipating demand helps control costs and maintain reliable service.
