Call it the Super Bowl energy shuffle.
Demand for power during Sunday’s championship match-up between the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots followed well-established patterns, mostly revolving around food and drink.
Electricity use rose ahead of kickoff as people cranked up ovens, stove tops and microwaves to prepare food. Demand fell as fans settled in to watch the the Eagles defeat the Patriots in Minneapolis, only to rise again at halftime with trips to the kitchen to replenish drinks and heat up more snacks.
MISO, the grid operator that covers Minneapolis, said it experienced a load increase of around 1,344 megawatts starting at halftime. New England ISO, which manages the grid in states including Massachusetts, also reported a halftime spike.
“It’s caused by people using the kitchen and bathroom as well as turning on room lights,” said Mark Brown, a MISO spokesman. “When they settle back in to watch the game demand drops. It’s a typical and expected swing as people take those breaks.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Jim Efstathiou Jr. in New York at jefstathiou@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Lynn Doan at ldoan6@bloomberg.net, Will Wade, Joe Ryan
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