Power and Renewables

Precision Power Forecasting: Mastering Winter Volatility in SPP

byEnverus

Our SPP system‑wide load forecasting continues to deliver exceptional accuracy and consistency, reflecting the overall high performance of our forecasting portfolio. Enverus provides 15‑day‑ahead hourly forecasts for both SPP system demand and the individual balancing authorities across SPP, supporting reliable planning and operational confidence throughout the region. 

This February, system‑wide demand in SPP was lower than in January as the impacts of Winter Storm Fern dissipated. However, colder days still increased the demand for several days. On Monday, February 23rd, system demand reached its highest level of the month at 39,918 MW, in a very clear morning peak. Our three‑day‑ahead forecast had already anticipated this behavior, correctly predicting a morning peak as early as the prior Friday. 

Figure 1. Enverus Mosaic proprietary platform (data displayed in Hour Beginning), evolution of the Enverus load forecast on February 23rd, 2026 against the actual load for SPP. The Enverus Mosaic short-term analytics and forecasting solutions has a 25-year track record of forecasting load more accurately than the ISOs.
Figure 1. Enverus Mosaic proprietary platform (data displayed in Hour Beginning), evolution of the Enverus load forecast on February 23rd, 2026 against the actual load for SPP. The Enverus Mosaic short-term analytics and forecasting solutions has a 25-year track record of forecasting load more accurately than the ISOs.
Date 1-day ahead forecast MAPE 2-days ahead forecast MAPE 3-days ahead forecast MAPE 
ENVERUS ISO ENVERUS ISO ENVERUS ISO 
February 23rd, 2026 0.56 % 3.35% 0.78 % 3.14 % 3.33 % 4.65 % 
Table 1. 1‑day, 2‑day, and 3‑day ahead SPP system wide load forecasts versus the ISO’s forecasts. 

As expected, accuracy improves as we move closer to real time, demonstrating consistent model performance across time horizons. It is particularly notable how much better our day ahead load forecast performed compared to the ISO’s on February 23rd: 

  • Enverus daily MAPE: 0.56% 
  • ISO daily MAPE: 3.35% 
Figure 2. Enverus Mosaic proprietary platform (data displayed in Hour Beginning), evolution of SPP’s load forecast and Enverus load forecast from February 23 to February 28, 2026.
Figure 2. Enverus Mosaic proprietary platform (data displayed in Hour Beginning), evolution of SPP’s load forecast and Enverus load forecast from February 23 to February 28, 2026. 

Our day‑ahead load forecast outperforming the ISO’s is not a winter‑specific pattern since it holds across all seasons. Demand in SPP typically peaks higher during the summer, when load shapes show a gradual morning ramp, a dominant late‑afternoon peak, and a slow decline in the evening. During the winter, load shape is different: ramps are sharper (especially in the morning) and demand shows two distinct peaks, one in the morning and one in the evening. Spring and fall show the expected “shoulder season” behavior: lower demand overall, flatter profiles, and less pronounced peaks. 

Table 2 presents both monthly all day MAPE and monthly On‑Peak MAPE of our forecast versus the ISO’s. Enverus consistently outperforms the ISO every month, including spring and fall seasons when load forecasting is traditionally more challenging. Another important trend is clear: since mid‑2025, the ISO’s forecasting error has steadily increased, while our error profile shows a completely different pattern, remaining stable and increasing only slightly this January. 

Month   1-day ahead forecast MAPE  All hours  1-day ahead forecast MAPE  On-Peak period  
ENVERUS ISO ENVERUS ISO 
2025-01 1.54 % 2.16 % 1.54 % 2.30 % 
2025-02 2.29 % 2.45 % 2.49 % 2.70 % 
2025-03 1.48 % 2.28 % 1.55 % 2.14 % 
2025-04 1.60 % 2.29 % 1.72 % 2.17 % 
2025-05 1.65 % 2.17 % 1.87 % 2.06 % 
2025-06 2.03 % 2.32 % 2.20 % 2.30 % 
2025-07 1.71 % 1.96 % 1.80 % 2.02 % 
2025-08 1.48 % 1.83 % 1.60 % 1.76 % 
2025-09 1.33 % 2.20 % 1.46 % 1.97 % 
2025-10 1.16 % 2.37 % 1.29 % 2.28 % 
2025-11 1.39 % 2.19 % 1.37 % 2.14 % 
2025-12 1.58 %  2.68 % 1.60 % 2.71 % 
2026-01 2.33%  2.59 % 2.41 % 2.57 % 
2026-02 1.54 % 3.62 % 1.66 % 3.66 % 
Table 2. Monthly MAPE of Enverus SPP system wide demand day-ahead load forecast versus ISO’s forecast. 

This consistent performance demonstrates the reliability of our day‑ahead load forecast and reinforces its value to Enverus customers. 

Picture of Enverus

Enverus

Energy’s most trusted SaaS platform — creating intelligent connections that uncover insights and opportunities to deliver extraordinary outcomes.

Subscribe to the Enverus Blog

A weekly update on the latest “no-fluff” insight and analysis of the energy industry.

Related Content
Enverus Intelligence® Research Press Release - Haynesville operators calculate remaining growth
Business Automation
ByEnverus

Compress hours of bid comparison into a focused, AI-assisted session. Instant Analyst is now live in Enverus RFx for upstream sourcing teams.

Northern Bets On Canada with Parallax Stake
Analyst Takes News Release
ByAndrew Dittmar

Enverus analysts break down Northern Oil and Gas’ Parallax stake and what it reveals about cross-border capital flows and Canada’s competitive energy assets.

Enverus Intelligence® Research Press Release - Haynesville operators calculate remaining growth
Trading and Risk
ByChris Griggs

Transform spreadsheets and scripts into resilient systems with workflow automation in trading for better visibility and governance.

Enverus Press Release - Alternative fuels M&A focus turns from policy boosts to business resilience
Energy Transition
ByCarson Kearl, Enverus Intelligence® Research (EIR) Contributor

Examining NextEra-Dominion utility merger load growth assumptions, demand scenarios and potential regulatory hurdles.

Enverus Press Release - Undo the queue: Enverus acquires Pearl Street Technologies to solve for a more reliable, resilient grid
Energy Market Wrap
ByEnverus

NextEra’s landmark utility merger leads this week’s Energy Market Wrap, alongside Permian dealmaking, LNG expansion and rising infrastructure investment.

Enverus Press Release - Upstream M&A sails on with $30 billion in 2Q24
Minerals
ByHasmik Belich

Prime shale inventory is getting harder to find and more expensive to acquire. The mineral acquisition market is more competitive than it has ever been. Enverus Evaluate and Acquire brings together forecasting, inventory modeling and economic valuation in one connected...

Enverus Press Release - OFS prices expected to bottom out by year’s end
Analyst Takes
ByAl Salazar, Enverus Intelligence® Research (EIR) Contributor

Analysis of Brent crude price impact Strait of Hormuz Canadian energy and why Canada has supply leverage amid geopolitical risk.

Enverus Press Release - Enverus Earns Top Workplaces Honors for Fourth Consecutive Year
Minerals
ByHasmik Belich

MARC is where the minerals and royalty world comes to compare notes. This year, I came away with a clear sense that the macro environment is finally forcing the conversations the industry has been putting off — inventory quality, capital...

Enverus Press Release - Enverus releases inaugural Top US Drillers and customer rankings
Energy Market Wrap
ByEnverus

Deals, IPO activity and LNG growth drive this week’s Energy Market Wrap, alongside rising oil output, midstream expansion and continued carbon project challenges.

Let’s get started!

We’ll follow up right away to show you a quick product tour.

Let’s get started!

We’ll follow up right away to show you a quick product tour.

Sign up for our Blog

Ready to Subscribe?

Ready to Get Started?