From BigGo Finance · BigGo Finance · · 1m 50s
China's Residential Power Use Falls for First Time in a Decade
China's residential electricity use dropped for the first time in a decade as new business models surge.
In brief
China's residential electricity use dropped for the first time in a decade as new business models surge. China's residential electricity consumption fell 0.3% year-on-year in Q1-Q3 2026, the first negative reading in nearly a decade, while battery charging and swapping services and internet data services grew 55.4%…
Residential Power Use Drops
China's residential electricity consumption fell 0.3% year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2026, the first negative reading in nearly a decade.
Extreme Weather Impact
Typhoon Saudel and heavy rainfall reduced cooling demand, causing September's residential consumption to drop 6.0% year-on-year.
Residential Consumption Trend
Residential electricity use grew 12.6% in 2024, 5.6% in 2025, and now fell 0.3% in the first three quarters of 2026.
New Business Models Surge
Battery charging and swapping services and internet data services grew 55.4% and 41.6% year-on-year in September, contributing 79.4% of electricity consumption growth.
High-Tech Manufacturing Growth
High-tech and equipment manufacturing used 116.7 billion kWh in September, up 4.6% year-on-year, with electricity consumption rising 8.7% cumulatively.
Electric Vehicle Impact
Electric vehicle electricity use rose 16.0% year-on-year, driving new manufacturing demand in the high-tech sector.
Market Implications
The shift to new business models will affect grid investment, peak-valley load characteristics, and power market trading structures.
Long-Term Outlook
Experts expect residential electricity use to rebound as electric vehicle adoption increases, offsetting short-term weather impacts.
Key Data Points
Total electricity consumption rose 3.9% year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2026, with industrial and service sectors driving growth.
Residential Consumption Decline
Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu provinces saw residential electricity use drop 27.8%, 22.6%, and 22.1% year-on-year in September.
The bottom line
China's residential electricity consumption fell 0.3% year-on-year in Q1-Q3 2026, the first negative reading in nearly a decade, while battery charging and swapping services and internet data services grew 55.4% and 41.6% respectively.
