As heat pumps gain popularity, winter electricity demand is growing

Summary

Podcast Summary: Climate Connections – “As heat pumps gain popularity, winter electricity demand is growing”

Host: Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz
Date: March 17, 2026
Duration: 90 seconds

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Episode Overview

This episode of Climate Connections, hosted by Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz, addresses the growing popularity of electric heat pumps and examines the impact this shift has on winter electricity demand. The episode explores both the challenges and innovative solutions for managing higher seasonal energy use, spotlighting ways consumers and utilities can respond to changing grid needs in a cleaner, more cost-effective manner.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Heat Pumps and Winter Electricity Demand

• Electric heat pumps are gaining widespread popularity as an energy-efficient way to heat homes.

• Their ability to run on clean electricity makes them beneficial for the climate.

• However, their increased use is shifting the electricity demand peak to winter, rather than the traditional summer peak.

  “Electric heat pumps are rapidly gaining popularity. That's good for the climate because they're efficient and can run on clean electricity when it's available. But their widespread use means power companies will face intense demand during winter cold snaps.”
  — Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz [00:01]

Utility Challenges and Traditional Responses

• Utilities are now seeing electricity demand peak in winter, partly driven by greater heat pump adoption.

• Meeting these winter peaks can be difficult and costly, especially when extreme cold freezes natural gas infrastructure.

• The default response for many utilities is to consider building new power plants to cover these peaks, which involves significant investment.

  “For utilities, meeting those peaks can be expensive and challenging, especially if natural gas infrastructure freezes. So to prepare to meet growing demand, some may invest in new power plants.”
  — Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz [00:22]

Financial Impacts: Who Pays?

• Cost for grid upgrades often falls on ratepayers, potentially leading to higher electricity bills.

• Guest Mike Spiesman from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) raises concerns about increasing supply as the primary solution.

  “And someone has to pay for that, typically ratepayers. Which means electricity costs can increase. A better solution, we would argue, is to lower demand rather than increasing supply...”
  — Mike Spiesman, ACEEE [00:39]

Smarter Solutions: Lowering Demand

• Weatherization programs (such as insulating attics and air sealing walls) are recommended as a better alternative to building new plants.

• Demand response programs empower consumers to participate in reducing demand during peak periods in exchange for cost savings.

  “A better solution... is to lower demand rather than increasing supply by investing in weatherization programs, the insulation of attics and air sealing insulation of walls.”
  — Mike Spiesman, ACEEE [00:43]

The Role of Demand Response

• Customers who opt-in to demand response programs can save money.

• Utilities can slightly adjust thermostats in participating homes during grid strain, benefiting both the grid and consumers.

  “Customers who opt into these programs save money. And in exchange, the utility can reduce their home's energy use when the grid is strained, for example, by slightly adjusting their thermostat.”
  — Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz [00:58]

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Importance of shifting the approach:

  “A better solution, we would argue, is to lower demand rather than increasing supply...”
  — Mike Spiesman, ACEEE [00:42]

• Consumer action matters:

  “By participating in these programs, consumers can lower their bills and support a transition to a clean electric future.”
  — Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz [01:10]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:01-00:22 – Introduction to heat pump popularity and electricity demand shift
• 00:22-00:39 – Challenges faced by utilities, including supply concerns
• 00:39-00:58 – Cost impacts and alternative solutions (weatherization, lowering demand)
• 00:58-01:10 – Demand response programs and consumer participation
• 01:10-END – Summary: consumer empowerment and clean energy transition

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This concise episode links rising heat pump use to winter energy challenges, highlighting both the obstacles and collaborative opportunities for utilities and consumers to drive a cleaner, more resilient energy future.

Transcript

[A]

I'm Dr. Anthony Liesiewicz, and this is Climate Connections. Electric heat pumps are rapidly gaining popularity. That's good for the climate because they're efficient and can run on clean electricity when it's available. But their widespread use means power companies will face intense demand during winter cold snaps. Already, some are seeing demand peak in winter. Mike Spieschen of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy says that for utilities, meeting those peaks can be expensive and challenging, especially if natural gas infrastructure freezes. So to prepare to meet growing demand, some may invest in new power plants.

[B]

And someone has to pay for that, typically ratepayers. Which means electricity costs can increase. A better solution, we would argue, is to lower demand rather than increasing supply by investing in weatherization programs, the insulation of attics and air sealing insulation of walls.

[A]

And with demand response programs, customers who opt into these programs save money. And in exchange, the utility can reduce their home's energy use when the grid is strained, for example, by slightly adjusting their thermostat. So by participating in these programs, consumers can lower their bills and support a transition to a clean electric future. Climate Connections is produced by the Yale center for Environmental Communication. To learn more about climate change, visit climateconnections.org.