Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused changes in electricity demand and, consequently, electricity consumption profiles. Given the rapid changes in energy prices, it is significant from the perspective of energy companies, and forecasting consumed energy volume. A necessity for accurate energy volume planning forces the need for analyzing consumers’ behaviors during the pandemic, especially under lockdowns, to prepare for the possibility of another pandemic wave. Many business clients analyzed in the paper are economic entities functioning in sectors under restrictions. That is why analyzing the pandemic’s impact on the change in energy consumption profiles and volume of these entities is particularly meaningful. The article analyzes the pandemic and restrictions’ impact on the total change of energy consumption volume and demand profiles. The analysis was conducted basing on data collected from a Polish energy trading and sales company. It focused on the energy consumption of its corporate clients. Analyzed data included aggregated energy consumption volumes for all company’s customers and key groups of economic entities under restrictions. The analysis demonstrates the influence of pandemic restrictions on energy consumption in the group of business clients. Significant differences are observable among various sectors of the economy. The research proves that the largest drops in energy consumption are related to shopping centers and offices. Altogether, the restrictions have caused a 15–23% energy consumption drop during the first lockdown and a maximum 11% during the second against expected values.
Highlights
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 was unexpected and began many new challenges for the global and national economies [1]
The aim of the paper is to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the total electricity consumption and consumption profiles of clients representing key economic sectors
The conducted analysis focused on differences in consumed energy volumes in hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly intervals in 2 subsequent years: in 2019, without restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic; and 2020, during the pandemic
Summary
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 was unexpected and began many new challenges for the global and national economies [1]. The situation has significantly impacted numerous industries, including production, agriculture, transport, financial services, education, and healthcare [2]. Some of its consequences were changes in the electricity demand profiles of consumers representing various branches of the economy. Has the situation significantly impacted the energy sector, in which the correct forecasting of electricity consumption is one of the key factors guaranteeing power plants’ stability works and continuous financial income? In 2020, the pandemic decreased the global GDP by 4.4%. This value was significantly higher than the GDP decrease of
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
