An
electronic circuit has: a
cell array having a plurality of memory cells, each
memory cell having a bistable circuit having a first
inverter circuit and a second
inverter circuit capable of switching between a first mode having a transfer characteristic substantially free of
hysteresis and a second mode having a transfer characteristic with
hysteresis, an output node and an input node of the first
inverter circuit being connected to an input node and an output node, respectively, of the second inverter circuit; and a
control circuit that, after powering off one or more first memory cells of the plurality of memory cells in which data can not be retained, sets the
bistable circuits within one or more second memory cells of the plurality of memory cells remaining powered on to the second mode, provides a second supply
voltage to the
bistable circuits within the one or more second memory cells in a state maintaining the second mode, the second supply
voltage being lower than a first supply
voltage provided to the
bistable circuits when reading and / or writing data, the second mode bistable circuits being capable of retaining data at the second supply voltage.