Assessing the Long-Term Impacts of COVID-19 on Electricity Consumption

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic, sending the United States economy reeling. In 11 months, the virus has spread to every corner of the country. Public safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, interstate and international travel bans, and local restrictions on public gatherings have fundamentally changed the daily lives of Americans, reshaping the way we use energy. As the U.S. recovers from the pandemic, it remains to be seen which changes rebound and which leave permanent marks on the energy landscape.