How Has Our Energy Usage Changed Over 30 Years?

The Rise of Electricity Usage in Modern Homes

With over 30 years’ operating as one of the UK’s top utilities facilitators, we’ve seen first-hand how electricity demand has soared.

Think of your gaming consoles, smartphones, laptops, sound systems, home appliances and even electric car chargers, the list is seemingly endless. As our dependence on technology has grown, so too has our electricity consumption.

We’ve also noticed this change directly in our work. Where domestic homes once required only a single-phase supply and commercial buildings a three-phase, today many new homes (and upgrades to existing ones) now need a three-phase connection to cope with increased power demand.

The decline of gas usage in new developments

While electricity usage continues to rise, domestic gas demand is moving in the opposite direction.
With newbuild homes increasingly designed as all-electric, we’re seeing fewer requests for gas connections and more multi-utility projects involving just electricity and water.

These all-electric properties often require greater electrical capacity, which again explains the growing shift towards three-phase connections.

Water usage: A gradual but steady increase

Water consumption has also seen a gentle rise, although far less dramatically than electricity.

Hot tubs, rainfall showers, and garden irrigation systems are more common than ever, slightly increasing domestic demand. Despite this, the infrastructure requirements haven’t changed much; pipe sizes and water service installations remain broadly consistent, showing that growth in water use is steady rather than steep.

How these changes affect utility connections

These shifts in household energy use have reshaped how we design and deliver new utility connections.

We’re installing more high-capacity electricity supplies, fewer gas services, and tailoring our multi-utility work to reflect the evolving needs of modern homes. Whether you’re building or upgrading a property, it’s essential to factor these changes into your long-term energy planning.

What these trends mean for the future

Our energy habits may have changed, but our commitment to reliable, efficient utility connections remains the same.
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These are general insights into UK household energy usage trends. Actual consumption will vary between properties and regions.