OREANDA-NEWS. March 23, 2018. UK power demand in all of the Triad periods during winter 2017-18 was below 50GW for the first time since 1999.

Transmission system operator National Grid runs a Triad scheme, where industrial users are incentivised to curb their demand for power from the high voltage grid during the three half hourly periods of highest demand during a winter.

Cold weather in late February resulted in the latest Triad period in the season since the scheme began in 1991. The final Triad period of the year was recorded on 26 February between 17:30 and 18:00, when demand was 47.12GW. The scheme runs from 1 November to 1 March.

The other two Triad periods were on 5 February 2018 at 47.1GW, and 11 December 2017 at 48.58GW. Combined demand of 142.8GW over the three Triad periods this winter was the lowest for the scheme since 1991.

All the Triad periods in winter 2017-18 were on a Monday, the first time this has happened since the scheme began. Monday is the most common day for a Triad, with 30 recorded since the start of the scheme, followed by Thursday, with 20. Only one Triad period has ever occurred on a Friday.