Seventh Power Plan Regional Load Forecast to Be Lower Than Sixth Power Plan's

The preliminary load forecast for the draft Seventh Power Plan is for a moderate rate of growth over the next 20 years of between .5 and 1 percent. Regional load is expected to increase by 2,000-5,000 average megawatts before accounting for potential energy efficiency savings. Partly due to the prolonged recession and energy savings achieved since 2010, the draft plan's high load forecast for 2030 is about the same as the low forecast from the Council's Sixth Power Plan.

According to staff analysis, under a future scenario where federal energy efficiency standards are updated every 6 years and improved by 10 percent at each revision, most, if not all, load growth would be met through their savings.

Growing summer peak load, an ongoing trend, and very little growth in winter peak demand, are forecast to continue. As a result, regional summer peaks are expected to be roughly equivalent to winter peaks by 2035.