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JUE Insight: Powering work from home

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  • Cicala, Steve

Abstract

This paper documents a shift in energy consumption toward residential usage during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Focusing on electricity, I find a 7.9% increase in residential consumption, and a 6.9% and 8.0% reduction in commercial and industrial usage, respectively, from a monthly panel of electric utilities. Natural gas consumption also shifted toward residential use, so that aggregate electricity and gas expenditure only fell by 1% on net during a period in which GDP fell by 5%. Hourly smart meter data from Texas reveal how daily routines changed during the pandemic, with residential electricity usage during weekdays closely resembling those of weekends. In total, residential energy expenditures were an estimated $13B higher during Q2-Q4 2020, with the largest increases occurring in areas with a greater propensity to work from home. I find that transportation fuel consumption declined about 16%, so that total energy consumption in the U.S. economy fell by 8%.

Suggested Citation

  • Cicala, Steve, 2023. "JUE Insight: Powering work from home," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:juecon:v:133:y:2023:i:c:s0094119022000511
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jue.2022.103474
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    1. Robert Huang & Matthew E. Kahn, 2024. "Household carbon dioxide emissions Engel Curve dynamics," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 42(3), pages 396-415, July.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
    • R22 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Other Demand
    • Q40 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - General
    • L94 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Electric Utilities
    • G50 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - General

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