TL;DR: Zip code data reveals electricity, natural gas, and water usage at the zip code level. Knowing the current consumption in different regions can help utility companies predict demand and plan how to meet it. This is especially helpful in desert regions, where supply is more challenging.
Zip code data provides a solid basis for analyzing average bill and consumption patterns for water, gas, and electricity customers, as well as broadband availability. Data on the zip code level can also be visualized in interactive maps, which are accessible online. Geospatial analysis tools can help educate people about important utility issues.
States with desert areas tend to consume the most electricity
Texas is the leading electricity consumer in the US, followed by California. In 2022, residents of the Lone Star State consumed 475 terawatt-hours. Arizona was the 17th biggest consumer that year, with a total consumption of 287.3 trillion BTU. In 2024, 1,059 kilowatt-hours (kWh) was the average electricity usage per Arizonian household per month, equivalent to an average monthly bill of $148. Arizona zip codes and related data are essential for utility planning because they help policymakers and utility providers allocate resources efficiently. Zip code-level insights allow for precise demand forecasting, ensuring that supply and infrastructure investments align with regional needs. Additionally, this data helps identify areas prone to outages, enabling proactive conservation efforts and emergency response planning. By using zip code data, officials can implement targeted policies that promote sustainability.
In 2024, the average electricity usage per California resident was about 756 kWh. The bills were higher than what people in Arizona paid – over $200 a month on average – as electricity prices are higher in the Golden State. Usage was up from 519 kWh per month in 2015 when it was among the lowest of all states. Now, California is the second-biggest consumer. At 562 kWh, California ranked third among the lowest average consumers in 2014, after Hawaii and Maine with 506 kWh resp. 549 kWh. Louisiana had the highest average consumption that year (1,291 kWh), ahead of Tennessee and Alabama with 1,286 kWh resp. 1,265 kWh. Ten years ago, California’s climate was moderate, which was the main reason for this low consumption. Climate change has impacted the state adversely.
Zip code maps provide stakeholders with information about water providers
The Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) adds new water systems and updates information for existing ones on an annual basis. It updates its service area maps once every five years. The ADWR supplies a mapper with this data and other data (groundwater basins, active/inactive well locations) as a tool to let the public know about water providers in the area. Water systems also use this data to view the service area boundary that the ADWR has on file and make corrections as needed.
Arid cities and regions will face severe water shortages in and beyond 2025. Sustainable solutions would require planners to treat energy and water as linked resources.
FAQ
What is the main energy source in deserts?
Predictably, light from the sun is the main source. Plants accumulate and store this energy during photosynthesis. Desert regions’ energy pyramid is a model of the amount and direction of energy flow between different trophic ecosystem layers. Producers like grasses and cacti form the pyramid base.
What is the water planning process?
The water planning process transpires in several phases, starting with data collection. Planners gather information about the water available and how it’s being used.
Do solar panels in Arizona help improve the energy supply?
In 2023, Arizona generated more solar energy than all the energy generated before 2015. It produced 11,779 GWh, compared to just 4,243 GWh in 2014, bringing it to 5th position in US solar rankings.