UK demand picks up on week as lockdown impact stabilizes

London — Electricity demand picked up in the UK Wednesday as colder, unsettled weather swept in from the Atlantic, system data showed.

Midweek load data through April, meanwhile, showed demand declines due to coronavirus measures stabilizing or reversing across Europe's five largest power markets, notably in Spain and Italy where lockdown conditions have been eased.

Week-on-week increases were most evident in the UK, where average load rose above 31 GW Wednesday from 27 GW for the previous Wednesday. French load edged up over the same period while Spain, Italy and Germany were stable.

Over a month's view of midweek demand levels, however, Spanish and Italian loads have risen 9% and 8% respectively.

These week-on-week gains barely dent the demand destruction evident across a 12-month view.

The starkest fall is in Italy, where average April Wednesday load last year amounted to 33.95 GW versus 26.26 GW this year, down nearly 23%.

Then comes France (-21%), Spain (-19%), UK (-18%) and Germany (-11%), according to unadjusted data gathered by European network operator group Entso-e.

MIDWEEK LOADS HEAVILY DOWN ON YEAR (GW)