Where wholesale hourly power markets are managed by independent system operators (ISO), and/or where real-time pricing is available, having a clear idea of how one's load profile varies by the hour may be essential to making the most of such opportunities. Obtaining such data requires presence of an interval meter, which is common for larger customers and those taking time-of-use service.
A recent survey by Chartwell Inc., a utility market research company, found that 30% of those utilities surveyed provided energy management software for analyzing energy data (often including interval data), and/or the data itself, through online access. Another 12% were planning or considering such services. In most cases, services are offered at little or no cost to customers. The survey found that, where offered, it was tied with energy efficiency audits and consultations as a utility's most popular product.