1st Malaysia Demand Forecasters Meeting
29-30 September 2025
Kota Kinabalu, 29–30 September 2025 – The program was successfully held on 29–30 September 2025 at the Lavender Meeting Room, Kuwasa Complex, with participation from delegates representing Single Buyer Sabah as the host and organiser, Single Buyer Peninsular Malaysia (SBPM), Regulatory & Stakeholder Management Division (RSMD), Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB), and Sabah Electricity, alongside an international guest speaker from ITRON USA. This inaugural program was organised to strengthen collaboration and coordination among utility forecasters across Malaysia. The two-day event served as a strategic platform for knowledge sharing, discussions on electricity demand forecasting methodologies, and exchange of insights on challenges and best practices in performing the role of ‘load forecasters’.
The 1st Malaysia Demand Forecasters Meeting, jointly organised by Single Buyer Sabah, SBPM, RSMD, and SEB, featured various presentation and discussion sessions focusing on the direction and challenges of electricity demand forecasting in Malaysia. Day One began with welcoming remarks by Chief Single Buyer, Mr. Cornelius Shapi, followed by the officiating address by YBhg. Datuk CEO of Sabah Electricity, Ir. Ts. Datuk Mohd Yaakob Hj Jaafar. The sessions continued with presentations by RSMD, SEB, SBPM, and SB Sabah, covering topics such as forecasting methodologies, national energy challenges, the role of emerging technologies like EVs and solar PV, and strategies for building more accurate and sustainable forecasts.
Day Two continued with a technical session by the invited expert from Itron USA, focusing on long-term forecasting frameworks and technology applications in national energy demand forecasting. Participants were also exposed to forecasting approaches from system-level to regional perspectives, insights on energy efficiency trends in the United States, and findings from the 2025 Global Forecasting Survey relevant for local reference. The session also covered Fundamentals of Regression & Neural Network Forecasting, as well as the use of forecasting software such as Metrix ND and MetrixLT. A Way Forward discussion was also held to align cooperation among utility forecasters nationwide towards developing a sustainable national energy forecasting framework..
On 2 October 2025, delegates from SBPM, RSMD, and SEB continued their engagement through a site visit to the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Dam Road, Lahad Datu. The visit provided valuable insights into the operational aspects and potential of BESS technology as a key enabler of grid stability and energy transition, complementing the discussions held during the Malaysian Demand Forecasters session. The delegation received a briefing on BESS and was taken on a tour of the Control Room and site facilities, guided by Mr. Nazlan Bin Sapri (Elopura Power Sdn. Bhd.) and Mr. Shawn (Sungrow). Overall, the program successfully achieved its primary objectives as a strategic platform for knowledge exchange, discussions on electricity demand forecasting methodologies, and sharing of best practices among ‘load forecasters’. As a continuation of this success, Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) has been selected to host the next edition of the program.