What base load means
Base load is the relatively steady electricity demand that remains before heating, cooling, cooking, laundry, or vehicle charging is added. It is not automatically waste: refrigerators, safety systems, network equipment, pumps, and controls can be legitimate continuous loads.
Use interval data first
If your utility provides hourly or 15-minute data, inspect several quiet overnight periods. Use the lowest stable interval rather than a single unexplained spike.
Investigate by category
List equipment that is always connected, then measure cord-connected devices and review hardwired loads one circuit at a time only when it is safe to do so.
- Refrigerators and freezers
- Routers, mesh nodes, servers, and set-top boxes
- Well, sump, recirculation, or aquarium pumps
- Dehumidifiers, heat tape, and HVAC crankcase heaters
Do not disconnect blindly
Medical equipment, alarms, sump pumps, refrigeration, networking used by security devices, and equipment that requires a controlled shutdown should not be switched off casually. The goal is to identify loads, not create a safety or reliability problem.
Sources and further reading
DOE: Estimating appliance energy useCalculations are estimates. Utility bills, appliance measurements, and manufacturer documentation take priority over generic examples.