A Big Data Pilot Project with Smart Meter Data (abridged version)

What is big data? Can it replace and or supplement official surveys? What are some of the challenges associated with utilizing big data for official statistics? What are some of the possible solutions? Last fall, Statistics Canada invested in a Big Data Pilot project to answer some of these questions. This was the first business survey project of its kind. This paper will cover some of the lessons learned from the Big Data Pilot Project using Smart Meter Data.