This paper investigates the changes in electricity consumption (EC) at the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) level across the continental U.S. during the initial two months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study finds a correlation between the reduction in total EC and the shares of specific industries within an MSA, while residential EC increased across the continental U.S. regardless of pandemic incidence or economic structure. The analysis, covering 380 MSAs representing 86% of the U.S. population and 87% of total EC, provides valuable insights for future socioeconomic crises.

Jinning Wang (Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA), Fangxing Li (Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA), Hantao Cui (Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA), Qingxin Shi (Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA), Trey Mingee (Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA)