How Much Power Is Needed For Holiday Lighting Displays In NYS?
The New York State Independent System Operator (NYISO) has determined how much additional electricity will be needed for all that holiday lighting we enjoy.
Holiday lighting is expected to add 750-800 megawatts (MW) to the level of electricity used by New Yorkers this season, according to the NYISO.
The electricity used by holiday lighting is approximately 4-percent of the New York’s average hourly demand for electricity (18,500 MW).
The statewide impact of holiday lighting is equal to powering up to 800,000 homes. (One megawatt of electricity can serve approximately 800 to 1,000 homes.)
The NYISO notes that while the amount of electricity used by seasonal displays is sizeable, it dropped significantly as consumers adopted more energy-efficient holiday lights. As recently as 2010, the NYISO estimated the impact of holiday lighting at 1,150 MW. That level has declined to the 800-900 MW range in recent years as LED (Light Emitting Diode) products lessened the power demands from seasonal lighting.
