Energy Demand in Northern Coastal Communities. Data Analysis Using Tacoma Power Data
We generate a sample of hourly energy demand for a representative Northern community on the Pacific coast using the hourly electricity operating data for Tacoma Department of Public Utilities (“U.S. Energy Information Administration” 2019). We find that the demand for power for a Pacific Northwestern utility, such as Tacoma power, exhibits similar seasonal and hourly patterns as energy demand in Alaskan villages.1
1 Data
The plot below shows hourly energy demand for Tacoma Power during 2015-2019.
Source: Demand for Tacoma Department of Public Utilities Light Division Hourly https://www.eia.gov/opendata/qb.php?category=2122628&sdid=EBA.TPWR-ALL.D.H2 Seasonal Patterns in Energy Demand
The energy demand is highly seasonal. It peaks in the winter months, and is lowest in May-September. This pattern is similar to the pattern of energy use in Alaskan remote communities (Devine (2004)). Alaskan villages consume more electricity per capita during the winter months than in the summer months, due primarily to increased lighting and electric heating loads (The Alaska Village Electric Load Calculator)The plot below shows the seasonality of the energy demand in Alaskan village residential sector - typically, the largest energy user in the villages. The seasonal patterns of energy use by government and commercial sectors look similar.
Energy Consumption of Residential Sector in Sample Alaskan Villages, 2003 
Source: NREL, The Alaska Village Electric Load Calculator, 2004
3 Daily Patterns in Demand for Electrical Power. The Pacific Northwestern ‘Duck’ Curve
The demand for electricity peaks at 12 pm, stays high until 7 pm, and starts to decline after 8 pm, reaching its lowest point at 4 am.
This patterns is similar to daily variations in demand in Alaskan remote communities. The plot below shows the daily load profile for a small Alaskan community of Selawik.
Daily Load Profiles for Selawik, Alaska 2003
Source: NREL, The Alaska Village Electric Load Calculator The Alaska Village Electric Load Calculator, 2004
4 References
Devine, M. 2004. “The Alaska Village Electric Load Calculator the Alaska Village Electric Load Calculator,” no. October. doi:10.2172/15011687.
“U.S. Energy Information Administration.” 2019. Accessed July 22. https://www.eia.gov/opendata/.
The electricity operating data for large PNW utilities, such as the largest utility PSE, exhibit similar seasonal and daily patterns as Tacoma Power.↩