Weekly demand changes after late-May and early-June holidays
In the first week of June 2026, electricity demand rose in Great Britain and Spain versus the previous week. Great Britain recorded a 3.1% increase, reversing a downward pattern seen over the prior two weeks. The rise partially recovered demand following the May 25 Spring Bank Holiday. Spain also increased demand by 0.9%, extending a third consecutive weekly rise.
Most continental European markets saw declines over the same period. Italy posted the largest fall, with demand down 8.6%, linked to the Republic Day holiday on June 2. France, Belgium, and Portugal reported decreases between 3.0% and 7.0%, with France down 3.0% and Portugal down 7.0%. Germany recorded a smaller decline of 1.0%, continuing a second consecutive week of falling demand.
In Portugal and Germany, lower consumption was mainly attributed to the Corpus Christi holiday on June 4. The holiday is national in Portugal and is observed in several German regions. This timing coincided with the broader weekly demand reductions seen across multiple markets.
Temperature declines and revised outlook for the second week of June
Average temperatures fell across all analyzed markets during the period, affecting electricity consumption patterns. France and Great Britain recorded the largest temperature drops at 5.0°C each. Belgium followed with a 4.9°C decrease. Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Germany saw smaller declines ranging from 1.4°C in Spain to 2.7°C in Germany.
For the second week of June, forecasts indicate mixed expectations across Europe. AleaSoft Energy Forecasting expects increases in Germany, Belgium, France, Portugal, and Italy. At the same time, it projects declines in electricity demand for Great Britain and Spain.