[mcgarnagle]

no, you don't. When I activate a light switch and consume more power from the grid I am not directly adding more coal/fuel to the fire/generator. This is where the warehousing analogy breaks.

Those numbers are looked at on aggregate to determine how much electricity needs to be produced to supply the population. They are directly tied into finance departments to generate your bill, sure, but that is an independent system from the production of electricity.

In the case of water supply, same thing. Just because I turn on my tap doesn't mean I am directly affecting the water treatment plant to treat exactly 1 more cup of water today.