In the rhythm of the home: How does increased home occupancy affect residential electricity consumption?

Working from home and increased presence at home have the potential to affect households' ability to use electricity flexibly, by expanding the time window during which devices and appliances are used. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased home presence, potentially influencing this flexibility. As flexibility in electricity consumption is key focus in demand-side management, understanding how changes in home presence impact electricity consumption patterns and potential flexibility is important. Using survey and electricity meter data, this study examined whether changes in Swedish households' electricity consumption during the pandemic differed between those who spent more time at home during the pandemic and those who did not, focusing on two measures capturing electricity consumption patterns: volume and variability. All households showed an increase in average electricity consumption, with more pronounced increases during daytime hours among those who reported being home more. Increased presence at home also reduced variability, suggesting that those at home more often had a more regular electricity consumption pattern. These results are discussed in the light of practical implications for demand-side management.