The affect of the clock change on electricity demand

We’ve carried out some interesting analysis on houses with solar panels as a follow up to our recent post on the impact of the autumn clock change on energy consumption, comparing average week-day consumption from the week before the clock change to the week after.

Here’s what we discovered about our customers with solar pre- and post- going back to GMT:

?? Shift in Hourly Consumption Patterns: the average electricity consumption per hour increases and occurs earlier in the evening with shorter daylight hours; households appear to adjust routines.

?? Increase in Daily Consumption: The graph reveals an increase in average daily usage after the clock change, influenced by colder temperatures and the darker evening hours. This 11.6% increase in demand demonstrates the need for more lighting and heating during this time.

?? Solar Generation: The clock change alters routines but doesn’t affect solar energy production, which remains aligned with natural daylight hours, in our study. However, as we progress into winter, shorter days and reduced solar radiation will naturally lower solar energy output, which emphasises homes’ reliance on grid energy during winter months.

Be sure to keep an eye on your energy consumption habits this winter (which can be done through our ‘Bright’ app or Glowmarkt site ??) to see how the colder, shorter days influence your own usage.

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