Europe power demand softens in early April, with Easter effects and a forecast rebound

Electricity demand dipped across most major European markets in the second week of April compared with the prior week, underscoring how quickly seasonal factors can shift consumption patterns. The declines were most pronounced in France, while Germany saw only a modest fall.

Demand falls across most markets after Easter

France recorded the largest weekly decrease at 16%, whereas Germany posted the smallest decline of 3.4%. Belgium, Italy and Great Britain also fell, with reductions of 6.9%, 8.2% and 8.5%, respectively. The article attributes much of the slowdown to the Easter holiday period—particularly Easter Monday on April 6.

Not all regions moved lower. Demand in the Iberian markets moved in the opposite direction, rising by 5.4% in Spain and 6.3% in Portugal during the same comparison period.

Warmer weather accompanies the shift

At the same time, average temperatures rose across all analyzed markets. Italy registered the highest temperature increase at 3.1°C, while Portugal recorded the smallest rise of 0.8°C. In other markets, temperature gains ranged from 1.0°C to 2.9°C.

Recovery expected in the third week

Looking ahead to the third week of April, forecasts from AleaSoft Energy Forecasting indicate a recovery in electricity demand across all analyzed European markets.

For market participants, the combination of holiday-driven volatility and weather-related changes highlights why short-term demand outlooks can swing quickly—while forward-looking forecasts may help guide trading and operational planning as consumption normalizes after Easter.