The operator of the region’s power grid, ISO New England, uses historical data to project demand on any given day.  This is also true for holidays and high-profile sporting events like this weekend’s Super Bowl 47.

ISO forecasters will base this Sunday’s demand on trends culled from previous Super Bowls.  Lacey Ryan is a spokeswoman for ISO New England.  She says they look at trends from past Super Bowls.

Ryan says they commit generators to run a day in advance based on their forecast in order to make sure there is enough generation in the system to meet consumer demands, not unlike what they’d do during a summer hot spell.

Ryan says operators can see spikes and dips at various points throughout the game, particularly during breaks in the action.  She says the forecasts are not unlike what they do during the summer during unusally hot weather.