Combining Artificial Neural Networks and Heuristic Rules in a Hybrid Intelligent Load Forecast System

In this work, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is combined to Heuristic Rules producing a powerful hybrid intelligent system for short and mid-term electric load forecasting. The Heuristic Rules are used to adjust the ANN output to improve the system performance. The study was based on load demand data of Energy Company of Pernambuco (CELPE), which contain the hourly load consumption in the period from January-2000 until December-2004. The more critical period of the rationing in Brazil was eliminated from the data file, as well as the consumption of the holidays. For this reason, the proposed system forecasts a holiday as one Saturday or Sunday based on the specialist’s information. The result obtained with the proposed system is compared with the currently system used by CELPE to test its effectiveness. In addition, it was also compared to the result of the ANN acting alone.