Extreme weather in 2018 brought highest US electricity generation since 2007

Extreme weather led to the highest electricity demand in the United States in more than a decade, culminating in a record 4,178 million megawatt hours (MWh) last year.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that it was the first time utility-scale generation passed the pre-recession peak of 4,157 million MWh, set in 2007. Bitter winters and scorching summers are to blame, as electricity fueled a rise in air conditioning and a variety of fuels contributing to heating demand.

In all, the EIA reported that U.S. households caused a 6 percent increase in retail electricity sales. Approximately, 87 percent of U.S. households cool their homes with air conditioning and 35 percent use electricity as their primary heating course. Likewise, commercial buildings were adversely affected by the weather, though to a lesser degree, experiencing a 2 percent electricity sale increase over 2017. Industrial sales actually decreased.

Solar may have helped some people, but the EIA noted that small-scale solar PV generation did not yet boast enough of an output to meet increased demand in 2018.

The EIA expects that electricity consumption will continue to grow in years to come, but at a slower pace than previously. Despite the massive leap in 2018, sales in the residential and commercial sectors are expected to slow to 0.4 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively, in accordance with technological improvements and energy efficiency standards.