Ok not so much a stat but a fascinating data point - now that 2023 is over and the final numbers are in, the NEM
still hasn’t beaten the 2008 record for total electricity consumption. But it got very, very close. Like 22 GWh close, or 1 hour of consumption!
In 2008, total electricity consumption in the NEM footprint,
including behind-the-meter rooftop solar, was 207.564 TWh.
In 2023, total electricity consumption in the NEM footprint, including rooftop solar, was 207.542 TWh. A tiny 0.5% increase on 2022, but an even tinier 0.01% below the 2008 record. You could argue that because 2008 was a leap year, and 2023 wasn’t, that is the sole reason the 2008 record still stands. 2024
should beat it… but I’ve been wrong before…
That’s incredible when you consider the population has grown 24% in that time. This is all due to increased energy efficiency across the entire economy - residential and businesses.
Taking out rooftop solar, total
grid consumption continues to fall. In 2023 it was 184.406 TWh, 1.8% less than in 2022, and a whopping 11.1% less than the peak grid consumption in 2008. This is all due to rooftop solar displacing grid demand.