Final answer:
The measuring component in question aggregates data to calculate the total consumption for each postal code within a service territory, aiding in resource management and analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of the measuring component that holds summarized usage from other measuring components is primarily to aggregate the usage data and provide a comprehensive overview of consumption within a certain context. In this case, the most accurate description of its purpose is option 1) To calculate the total consumption for each postal code within a service territory. This allows for an assessment of the overall energy or resource usage in different geographical areas, facilitating various analyses such as optimization of resource distribution, infrastructure planning, and targeted service upgrades.