Why Visibility Matters: How the VisNet Hub Helps You Stay Ahead of Seasonal Load Swings

As summer unfolds and schools have closed their doors, something less visible, but equally impactful is happening on our electricity networks.

Changes in energy demand ripple across the system, often in unpredictable ways. Understanding and responding to these fluctuations is vital, not just for engineers managing capacity, but also for those planning maintenance, comparing peak loads, and ensuring long-term asset resilience.

At VisNet from EA Technology, we’ve seen how the VisNet Hub plays a central role in uncovering these hidden patterns and why its real-time grid-edge intelligence and substation-level granularity are more essential than ever.

The Hidden Shifts of Summer

You might expect a smooth decline in load during the summer holidays, but the reality is far more complex. Drawing on analysis led by our own Dr David Clements, we’ve observed that while average load fell by around 1% between June and August, this figure masks a story of stark contrasts:

• 59% of circuits saw a decrease in load, as people went on holiday and domestic energy use dropped.
• 11% of sites experienced a dramatic reduction, more than 10% lower than June levels.
• However, 41% of circuits saw an increase in load, and nearly 10% showed a growth over 10%, thus highlighting localised surges in demand.

This kind of variability makes it risky to rely on generalised assumptions. If these high-load sites are geographically clustered, they could distort maintenance plans, complicate demand forecasting, and mislead operators who are benchmarking against summer ratings.

The Back-to-School Surge

While the June to August shift offers a mixed picture, the August to September transition tells a much clearer, and arguably more actionable, story.

• Average loading jumps by 9%, signalling the end of the holiday season.
• But 10% of sites see loads spike by 22% or more, with schools being the prime contributors. In many cases, these sites exceed their June demand, not just returning to baseline but overshooting it.
• Meanwhile, 13% of sites saw load reductions which was mostly commercial or retail areas winding down from summer peaks.

This contrast underscores a powerful truth: context matters. The VisNet Hub gives operators the real-time intelligence to pinpoint which sites are surging, where, and by how much. That allows proactive preparation, not just reaction, whether it’s adjusting operational plans, anticipating transformer loading, or optimising reinforcement strategies.

The Power of Knowing Where and When

What David’s analysis reveals is that granular visibility transforms decision-making. Without site-level data, we risk missing the nuance that matters most.

The VisNet Hub enables DNOs and network planners to:

• Identify site-specific demand anomalies quickly.
• Spot emerging risks to network performance, before they become failures.
• Prepare for seasonal surges and post-holiday rebounds with confidence.
• Optimise capacity and investment in the right place, at the right time.

In a landscape where energy patterns are becoming more dynamic and less predictable, the VisNet Hub is not just a monitoring tool, it’s a strategic advantage.

Ready to understand your network better—every day of the year?
Get in touch to learn how the grid-edge intelligence provided by the VisNet Hub can give you the clarity and confidence to manage seasonal shifts with ease.