Basel electricity consumption hits record low for May in 2026.
June 4, 2026In May 2026, the Canton of Basel consumed 92.8 gigawatt-hours of electricity, the lowest May total on record and significantly below the historical average of 108.5 gigawatt-hours. This continues a clear downward trend from a peak in 2012, with daily consumption patterns remaining typical and the lowest daily figure matching the all-time low.
In May 2026, the Canton of Basel consumed a total of 92.8 gigawatt-hours of electricity, with an average daily consumption of 3.1 gigawatt-hours. The highest daily consumption occurred on Wednesday, May 27, at 3.6 gigawatt-hours, while the lowest was recorded on Sunday, May 24, at 2.5 gigawatt-hours. This pattern, with the peak on a weekday and the trough on a weekend day, is typical for electricity demand.
Looking at historical data for the month of May since 2012, the average monthly consumption has been 108.5 gigawatt-hours, and the maximum recorded was 129.6 gigawatt-hours in May 2012. The consumption in May 2026, at 92.8 gigawatt-hours, is significantly lower than both the historical average and the maximum. It is also the lowest May consumption in the entire time series, falling below the previous low of 97.5 gigawatt-hours recorded in May 2023.
The daily consumption in May 2026 was relatively stable, with a range of 1.1 gigawatt-hours between the highest and lowest days. The lowest daily consumption of 2.5 gigawatt-hours matches the all-time lowest daily consumption recorded since 2012, which occurred on a Sunday in March 2024. This suggests that while the overall monthly total was historically low, the daily minimum was not an unprecedented event, but rather consistent with the lowest levels of demand seen in the past. The low consumption in May 2026 continues a clear downward trend observed over the past several years, with monthly totals declining from a peak of 129.6 gigawatt-hours in 2012 to the current level.
Table 1: Consumption of Electricity in May in GWh
| Year | Total Month | Max Daily | Avg Daily | Avg Weekday | Avg Weekend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 92.8 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 2.8 |
| 2025 | 97.7 | 3.49 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 2.8 |
| 2024 | 99.8 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 2.9 |
| 2023 | 97.5 | 3.49 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 2.8 |
| 2022 | 103.0 | 3.76 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 2.9 |
| 2021 | 98.4 | 3.59 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 2.8 |
| 2020 | 100.8 | 3.59 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 2.9 |
| 2019 | 108.4 | 3.81 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.1 |
| 2018 | 110.8 | 4.02 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.1 |
| 2017 | 116.3 | 4.28 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.3 |
| 2016 | 115.6 | 4.11 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 3.2 |
| 2015 | 116.9 | 4.28 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.3 |
| 2014 | 117.3 | 4.19 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.3 |
| 2013 | 122.1 | 4.41 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 3.4 |
| 2012 | 129.6 | 4.72 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 3.6 |
Figure 1: Daily May 2026 Electricity Consumption in GWh Compared with Historic Daily Average since 2012
Figure 2: Monthly Electricity Consumption in May
🤖 This text was generated with the assistance of AI. All quantitative statements are derived directly from the dataset listed under Data Source.