There are two main ways to obtain energy data that will help you understand your community energy use.

1. You can look for aggregated data. If at least 10 people's data is included this protects individual identities and electricity companies and researchers may be allowed to share it. The activity on energy data for your community takes you through possible sources of community level data.

2. You can ask households and businesses, one at a time, for permission to research their energy use.

This page deals with obtaining energy use data for a small number of buildings or specific sites.

Start with utility bills

Begin by collecting utility bills for the relevant sites. These bills contain valuable information about energy consumption, peak demand, and tariff structures. Analysing the historical usage patterns can provide insights into energy usage trends and help identify areas for improvement.

Obtain load profiles

To obtain load profiles, there are a few approaches you can consider:

• Contact your energy provider: Reach out to the energy provider or distribution network operator and inquire about the availability of load profiles for the selected sites based on NMI (National Metering Identifier) data. They may have access to load profile data and can provide you with the necessary information or guide you on the process to obtain it.

• Request smart meter data: If smart meters are installed at the sites, consider requesting smart meter data. Smart meters provide more granular and detailed information about energy consumption, often at shorter intervals (e.g., 30 minutes). In locations like Victoria, where smart meter rollout has occurred, accessing this data can provide a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of energy usage patterns.

• Use energy monitoring systems: Implement energy monitoring systems or devices at the selected sites to capture load profile data directly. These systems can provide detailed insights into energy usage patterns, peak demand periods, and load characteristics. They often offer real-time or near-real-time data, allowing for more accurate analysis and monitoring.

If you decide to implement energy monitoring systems at the selected sites to capture load profile data directly, it's important to communicate your specific requirements to the vendor or supplier. Specify the appliances or equipment you wish to monitor, such as HVAC systems, lighting, refrigeration, or production machinery. Additionally, indicate the desired granularity of data, such as hourly or 15-minute intervals, and any additional parameters you need, such as power factor or voltage fluctuations.

Additionally, it's important to consider the time required for the devices to capture sufficient data to establish accurate load profiles. This waiting period allows for capturing a representative range of energy usage patterns and helps ensure the data aligns with your specific needs.