Calendarization & Normalization in EnergyCAP

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Analysis Track

Calendarization & NormalizationPresented by Steve Heinz, PE, CEM


Calendarization


EnergyCAP ‘Reporting Month’

Each utility bill is assigned to a reporting month when entered.

Example:

A bill for April 20–May 20 is assigned to Billing Period of May because a majority of the days are in May even though 1/3rd of the consumption was in April.


EnergyCAP ‘Reporting Month’

A 60-day water bill for April 20–June 20 will be called a May bill (May being the reporting month); April and June will report zero consumption.


EnergyCAP ‘Reporting Month’ (continued)

For some users, “smoothing out” bills to the calendar month in which the consumption occurred is preferred.


This process is called Calendarization.


Why Calendarize?

Better month-to-month and year-to-year comparisons

“Smooth out” multi-month bills

More representative of actual monthly energy usage


Why Calendarize? (continued)

Better reports and graphs

Fewer “false alarms” and wasted investigation time

Available only in EnergyCAP Online versions


Calendarization Process


Non-weather sensitive meters

Simple average daily use and cost allocation

Spread it out based on days in each calendar month




Weather sensitive meters

Split bill into weather sensitive and non-weather sensitive pieces

Simple per day allocation of non-weather sensitive piece

Degree day proration of weather sensitive piece




Most important concept:

On an annual basis, the use and cost totals of calendarized data are equal to actual utility bills (exception: possible year-end rollover)


Calendarization is a better way to report and display the data


Non-Calendarized Data


Calendarized Data


How do we determine weather sensitivity?

Similar to Cost Avoidance (M&V)

Statistical correlation of usage vs. degree days

Summer and winter analyzed separately

Results visible for any meter


Weather sensitivity


See some examples:

Login

Buildings & Meters

Navigate to a meter in the tree

Calendarized Data tab, then Use vs. Weather tab


Normalization


Why Normalize?

Better year-to-year comparisons of usage (only)

Shows energy usage reduction attributable to your efforts, not due to the weather

Available only in EnergyCAP Online versions


Normalization Process


Most important concept:

Normalization shows estimated (hypothetical) data

“How much would I have used if the weather had been equal in every year to 2012?”



Simple average daily use and cost allocation

No adjustments are made

Spread it out based on days in each calendar month

For non-weather sensitive meters, normalized data=calendarized data



Split the bill into weather sensitive and non-weather sensitive pieces

Simple per day allocation of the non-weather sensitive piece

Degree day adjustment of the weather sensitive piece


Simpler Normalization Process

Q: Wouldn’t this be a lot simpler if I just divided my total usage by total degree days, to give me a simple usage per degree day index?

A: Yes, it would be simpler. It would also be totally invalid, so don’t waste your time doing it.


Simpler Normalization Process (continued)

The “divide all usage by degree days” assumes that 100% of usage is weather sensitive

But, you don’t want to make weather adjustments where weather has no impact on a meter’s usage

Normalization Result #1Monthly Use Graph



Normalization Result #2Annual Use Graph


Normalization Result #3Energy Use Intensity


Project TrackingTrack Sustainability Projects


Project Appears on ChartEnergy Use Intensity

Questions

Visit the Ace Place to learn more!


Technology

Calendarization & Normalization in EnergyCAP