Sunny skies, mild temperatures, and the Easter holiday drove demand for grid electricity in New England to its lowest level ever Sunday, April 20.
Preliminary data shows that power system demand fell to 5,318 megawatts on the afternoon of April 20, 2025, as temperatures averaged 58°F across the region.
It was the fourth year in a row the grid notched such a milestone. At more than 1,200 MW lower than the previous record of 6,596 MW set in April 2024, Sunday’s figure marked the most significant year-over-year difference during that period.
Spring and fall in New England typically see the lowest demand for grid electricity because people aren’t using as much energy to heat or cool homes and businesses.
On sunny days, production from rooftop solar panels and other “behind-the-meter” photovoltaic (BTM PV) installations satisfies a significant share of the region’s total electricity consumption. That was the case on Sunday, with estimated BTM PV production peaking around 6,600 MW.
“Such days are not disruptive from a grid operations perspective,” the grid operator said. “ISO New England’s sophisticated modeling and forecasting methods allow system operators to anticipate and prepare for low demand levels.”
But the trend toward more “duck curve” days, when demand is lowest in the afternoon instead of overnight, “illustrates the region’s changing resource mix, and the role different types of resources play over the course of a day.”
Demand for grid electricity more than doubled on Sunday as solar production waned through the afternoon and evening, rising to a peak of about 11,800 MW.
Other resources including natural-gas-fired generators, wind, and hydroelectric facilities supplied more electricity to the grid to meet the evening peak, and imports from other regions increased as well.
