‘Downton Abbey demand’ tops National Grid expectations

The UK’s demand for electricity on Christmas Day topped National Grid’s forecasts with period drama Downton Abbey causing a demand spike almost 20 per cent higher than expected.

National Grid estimated that peak Christmas demand would be lower than previous years due to milder than usual temperatures at 35.4GW, but in the New Year confirmed that demand reached a peak 5 per cent higher at 37.4GW.

A spokeswoman for the company added that the demand pick-up following period drama Downton Abbey reached 470MW compared to initial estimates for 400MW for the end of the Christmas special.

The end of a popular television special typically results in a surge in demand for power as consumers turn on kettles or other appliances. And National Grid also anticipated strong demand pick-ups following for the end of the Christmas episodes of Coronation Street and Call the Midwife.

National Grid’s energy forecasting manager Jeremy Caplin said: “It is important for us to determine which will be the most watched programmes as demand for electricity increases when these shows come to an end and people begin turning lights on, boiling kettles or even opening the fridge for a festive tipple.”

National Grid said that last year the show with the biggest TV pick up was EastEnders which ended at the same time as a commercial break in Downton Abbey resulting in a pickup of 320 MW.

But despite slightly higher than expected demand surge for the final episode of Downton Abbey the impact on the National Grid was marginal compared to the 1996 Christmas Special for Only Fools and Horses which reached 1,340MW.

“TV pick-ups have reduced over recent years as many people now watch on demand, skip commercial breaks and there are hundreds of channels to choose from. The things that still give big pickups are sporting events, royal weddings and big TV events– anything people want to watch live and in real time,” Caplin added.