The current pandemic and related containment measures greatly change the pattern of electricity usage, which is observed hourly by the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Hourly Electric Grid Monitor.
Several regional transmission organizations (RTOs) and independent system operators (ISOs) have reported less electricity demand and a delay in the morning increase (ramp) in the past few weeks as schools, workplaces, and businesses have closed to slow the spread of coronaries.
The the New York ISO (NYISO) reported that “from 6 to 10 a.m., a time when energy use typically ramps up as New Yorkers arrive at work, we are seeing a delay in the timing of the ramp and a reduction in usage of 6 to 9% relative to typical load patterns. That means energy load is increasing later in the day than normally expected and remaining at a lower level.”
Data from Seattle City Light (SCL), near where the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the country occurred, and Portland General Electric (PGE) show a similar delay and flattening of the typical morning ramp in recent weeks.
In normal times, the electricity demand in the U.S. s highest in the summer, which has a distinct single-peak load shape, and winter demand typically has separate morning and evening peaks. Spring and fall demand can be particularly volatile when temperatures swing significantly from week to week.