Sunday afternoon saw New England’s power grid experience an unprecedented drop in demand, reaching a record low of 5,318 megawatts between 1 and 2 p.m. This figure, released by ISO New England, significantly surpasses the previous record set last April. The mild temperatures, with many areas reaching into the 60s, combined with the Easter holiday, contributed to this decrease.

This decline in electricity usage is typical during the “shoulder” seasons of spring and fall when heating and cooling needs are reduced. ISO New England noted the continued trend of record lows, with a considerable difference from the previous year’s low point. The all-time high for grid demand remains 28,130 megawatts, recorded on August 2, 2006.

The rising adoption of energy-efficient devices and residential solar installations is also playing a role in lessening the strain on the power grid. On Sunday, solar panels generated an estimated 6,600 megawatts, exceeding the system’s total demand at that time. As solar production ceased with sunset, power demand more than doubled to approximately 11,800 megawatts.

ISO New England assures that these fluctuations are manageable due to advanced grid modeling and forecasting capabilities. Recently, renewable energy sources – including nuclear, hydroelectric, and others – briefly surpassed natural gas as the primary power source, accounting for over two-thirds of the region’s electricity generation.

Despite these gains in reducing demand, projections indicate that electricity use in New England will increase by over 17% by 2033. This growth is attributed to the increasing electrification of transportation and home heating, as well as the expansion of data centers and artificial intelligence. Peak demand in both summer and winter months is also anticipated to rise over the coming decade.