EIA Predicts Increased Electricity Demand

Overall, U.S. electricity sales continued to rebound in the second quarter of 2021, reflecting improving economic conditions. Sales of electricity during the quarter increased 5.5 percent from the second quarter in 2020.

Electricity demand toward the end of the second quarter exceeded the five-year average levels across most of the country. Regional variations correlated with higher-than-average temperatures, which boosted electricity consumption. 

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) continues to project a soft recovery of electricity sales in both the industrial and commercial sectors. Commercial and industrial (C&I) loads decreased by 6.2 percent and 8.2 percent respectively from 2019 to 2020 as a result of the economic disruptions. EIA projects 2021 and 2022 C&I sales will continue to fall short of the pre-pandemic levels seen during the economic boom of 2019.

However, EIA projects a continuation of the trend toward higher residential sales in 2021, followed by a slight decrease in 2022.