Implementing electric energy substitution is a crucial method for enhancing energy utilization efficiency andimproving energy consumption standards. Predicting the potential for electric energy substitution is essential for developingplans for electricity and other energy sources

and it is a prerequisite and fundamental basis for effective electric energysubstitution.This paper takes into account the impact of data time lags and uncertainty on the prediction of electric energysubstitution potential and proposes a time-lagged multivariable grey prediction model based on interval grey numbers(MGM(1

m

N)).Initially

the core and grey series are established based on historical data bounds.Time-lagged MGM(1

m

N)models are then constructed for both the core and grey series to obtain the predicted values. Finally

the upper and lowerbounds of the electric energy substitution potential prediction results are derived. Example results demonstrate that theproposed method has good applicability for predicting electric energy substitution potential

especially when considering timelags.