Did You Know?

  • The biggest ever TV pick-up was after the England vs West Germany semi final in the 1990 World Cup.  Demand soared by 2,800 MW, equivalent to a million kettles being turned on at once...
  • The biggest ever surge in demand was not actually for a TV programme, it was for the eclipse in 1999.  That was 3,000 MW, equivalent to 1.2 million kettles being boiled!!...
  • The biggest ever drop in electricity demand was for the three minute silence in the aftermath of 9/11.  That was a staggering 2,700 MW – equivalent to a million kettles being turned off...


  • Since April 2005, National Grid operates the network Great Britain, as opposed to just England and Wales. Different viewing habits in Scotland do make a difference.  Adding Scottish demand should just add 10% to the pick-ups, but you get more than that for Coronation Street because it is more popular in the north of Britain, but less for Eastenders because it is more popular in the south!...
  • We sometimes notice a pause after a match before the surge starts.  It happened after the 1990 England – West Germany game because we think everyone sat there stunned after we lost the game on penalties.  Then again, there was a pause after the match against Argentina in the last World Cup and we think that was because everyone was cheering England’s win...