Abstract: The invention relates to a method, its use for forecasting the amount of energy needed by an, in particular, industrial consumer from an energy supplier or vendor, and to a corresponding system and a device for applying the method. The core concept of the invention is a forecasting method which comprises the following method steps: a. creating an initial data series from controlled variables of a future production process in a defined period at at least one consumer; b. determining at least one historical production process in the form of a target data series by comparing the initial data series created with data series from controlled variables of historical production processes; c. determining the historical energy load pattern corresponding to the historical production process determined; d. creating a forecasting plan by means of the historical energy load pattern determined.