Government forecasts have consistently over-estimated Britain's future electricity use.
Electricity use has fallen by 16% since 2005, despite regular predictions of growing electricity demand.
Total demand basis:
ActualDECC '07DECC '10DECC '12NG FES '16BEIS '19DESNZ '22
Final consumption basis:
Actual (FC)NESO CP30CCC 7CBNESO FES '25
Source: DUKES 2025; Energy Trends March 2026 (2025 figure is provisional); DECC/BEIS/DESNZ Energy and Emissions Projections; National Grid/NESO FES; CCC 7th Carbon Budget; NESO Clean Power 2030.
Note: Older DECC/BEIS/DESNZ lines use total demand. Newer CCC/NESO lines use final consumption.
