The invention relates to a short-time power load forecasting method based on a long-range dependence FARIMA model. The method includes the following steps that (1) forecasting sample data are obtained according to power load data before a forecasting day; (2) the forecasting sample data are preprocessed, singular points and zero-mean-value are eliminated to obtain a power load sequence {Xt}; (3) an estimated value H of a Hurst index of the power load sequence {Xt} is calculated by means of a rescaled range analysis method; (4) whether the power load sequence meets the requirement of a long-range dependence process is judged according to the obtained estimated value H of the Hurst index, if the answer is positive, a fractional difference parameter d is calculated, and if the answer is negative, the step (1) is repeated; (5) according to the obtained fractional difference parameter d, the FARIMA model of the power load sequence {Xt} is built; (6) according to the FARIMA model, a power load value is forecasted, and an actual forecast value is obtained by carrying out inverse difference on the forecasted power load value to adjust a power scheduling scheme. Compared with the prior art, the method has the advantages of being accurate in result, high in practicality and the like.