Power demand in Italy recovered marginally during Q3, to be on par with 2019 levels. In previous quarters, consumption was reduced by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the recovery is likely to be jeopardised by a second wave of Covid-19 cases leading to reimposition of lockdown restrictions. Power demand reached 251TWh in the first nine months of 2020, despite seeing a slump in the second quarter.
The US’ Covid-19 Utility Grant Program, launched to provide financial relief from power bills to customers affected by the pandemic, has brought low-income citizens of Los Angeles under its purview. The City Council of L.A. agreed to place $50m in federal Covid-19 relief funds to assist people with their bills last week.
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Utility company Xcel Energy’s customers in Minnesota, US, could see their electricity bills increase as the company contemplates increasing its electricity rate by $597m. This would represent a 20% increase over the next three years. The company has not yet decided on the action. It also put forward a proposal to extend its current rate plan for another year, as its Covid-19 investment proposal worth $2.5bn is still under the Minnesota regulatory process.
