The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is predicting a 2% drop in electricity demand for 2009, followed by a slight raise of 0.8% in 2010. The drop is due to continued economic weakness in the industrial sector and lower commercial (not residential) demand.
   Quick Take: Although news outlets are stressing that the EIA’s estimate is worse than the one it made last month, the U.S. drop is still less than the rest of the world. In May, the International Energy said worldwide electricity demand could fall by as much as 3.5% in 2009. Still, that may be cold comfort for U.S. utilities, who could suffer if the demand stays down too long.  See Alex Zheng’s discussion linked below.

   MorningStar news report

   Report summary at EIA site

   SGN’s Alex Zheng on the drop in electricity demand