New England grid demand hits record low as rooftop solar kicks in

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

April 22, 2025 4:52 PM EDT Updated 11 hours ago


NEW YORK, April 22 (Reuters) - Power grid use in the far northeast United States registered an all-time low over the weekend as mild weather and rooftop solar panels slashed demand on the regional electrical system, grid operator ISO New England said on Tuesday.

WHY IT MATTERS

The U.S. power grid is shifting as climate change, the rise of renewable electricity generation and the electrification of buildings and industries like transportation upend long-held supply and demand trends.

On April 20, power demand on the New England power grid dropped to 5,318 megawatts after three consecutive years of registering record lows, ISO New England, the grid operator, said in a statement. This record was more than 1,200 megawatts, or about 20%, lower than last year's.

After reaching a trough in the afternoon, power demand more than doubled on the grid throughout the day as the sun set, rooftop solar energy diminished, and homes and business drew more power from the grid. At its peak on the day, so-called behind-the-meter solar peaked at about 6,600 megawatts.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/new-england-grid-demand-hits-record-low-rooftop-solar-kicks-2025-04-22/

[AZJonnie]

1. FREAKIN NIIIIICE!!!

[2naSalit]

2. K&R!!

[Woodwizard]

3. Installed 9kw in 2014

Added another 4kw after installing mini split heat pumps, covers most of our consumption. And up on my shop roof is not taking up any valuable space.

Unfortunately some of the solar companies are more interested in selling loans for over priced systems now.

We have 1 to 1 net metering so I get credit for excess kwh generated for night and low generation times.

Going to be interesting to see system prices with tariffs and the general unfriendly attitude of the trump administration to renewable energy.

[Miguelito Loveless]

7. I put in mine in 2015

and added to it twice. Now 20kW with net metering.

We are totally electric, including vehicles and haven't bought any gasoline since 2018. The array (plus batteries) covers our total electrical consumption, plus generates $70 a month in revenue since we joined our utility's virtual power plant.

My investment paid for itself as of last year, everything going forward is gravy.

[Vinca]

4. That's great! If we were to build again, I'd definitely go solar.

[Bayard]

5. trump can fix that

[Martin68]

6. A win for green energy, but so sad progress will now be halted and reversed for the next four years.