Report: New England’s Electricity Use to Rise Steadily
A new report from ISO New England projects regional electricity consumption will increase by about 17% over the next decade, driven primarily by the accelerating electrification of heating systems and transportation.
Load forecasters at the ISO examined expected economic growth, historical weather patterns, projected adoption of technology like distributed solar photovoltaics (PV), electric vehicles (EVs) and air-source heat pumps, and state-level carbon reduction goals to develop the 2024-2033 Forecast Report of Capacity, Energy, Loads, and Transmission (CELT Report), which serves as a foundational resource for the ISO’s system planning and reliability studies.
Components of the report include:
- A long-term forecast for energy consumption and peak demand, which accounts for the impacts of electrification, energy efficiency (EE), and behind-the-meter (BTM) PV generation
- The potential output of resources participating in the Forward Capacity Market (FCM), as well as the total generating capability of resources in the region
- A breakdown of the region’s generators by fuel/unit classification
- A link to the listing of transmission projects proposed, planned, and under construction
Net annual energy use in New England grew steadily between 1995 and 2005, driven primarily by increased economic growth and the use of air conditioning. Since 2005, net annual energy use has trended downward mainly due to an increase in energy efficiency from advanced cooling and heating technologies, energy-efficient appliances and lighting, and the increased prevalence of BTM solar generation. However, ISO New England is predicting that trend will reverse in the next decade. The ISO is forecasting steady growth in net annual energy use as state policy goals for carbon emissions reductions drive the increased electrification of heating systems and transportation in the region.
