Probabilistic Hourly Load Forecasting Using Additive Quantile Regression Models

Short-term hourly load forecasting in South Africa using additive quantile regression (AQR) models is discussed in this study. The modelling approach allows for easy interpretability and accounting for residual autocorrelation in the joint modelling of hourly electricity data. A comparative analysis is done using generalised additive models (GAMs). In both modelling frameworks, variable selection is done using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) via hierarchical interactions. Four models considered are GAMs and AQR models with and without interactions, respectively. The AQR model with pairwise interactions was found to be the best fitting model. The forecasts from the four models were then combined using an algorithm based on the pinball loss (convex combination model) and also using quantile regression averaging (QRA). The AQR model with interactions was then compared with the convex combination and QRA models and the QRA model gave the most accurate forecasts. Except for the AQR model with interactions, the other two models (convex combination model and QRA model) gave prediction interval coverage probabilities that were valid for the 90%, 95% and the 99% prediction intervals. The QRA model had the smallest prediction interval normalised average width and prediction interval normalised average deviation. The modelling framework discussed in this paper has established that going beyond summary performance statistics in forecasting has merit as it gives more insight into the developed forecasting models.