Electricity usage down in Dec
2009-02-05 14:27
Special Report
Eskom is set to seek a 34% hike in electricity tariffs, back from the 88% rise it had been considering due to the global economic slowdown, a newspaper says.
Johannesburg - Estimated consumption of electricity in December 2008 fell by 8.4% compared with December 2007 to 17 556 gigawatt-hours, Statistics SA said on Thursday.
This was the lowest figure since February 2006, the Pretoria-based agency said.
Electricity consumed during the fourth quarter of 2008 also decreased by 5.1% compared with the corresponding quarter of 2007.
Electricity consumption after seasonal adjustment during the fourth quarter of 2008 dipped by 4.5% compared with the third quarter of 2008.
Overall, the estimated consumption of electricity for the year 2008 decreased by 2.2% compared with the year 2007.
"For the year 2008, consumption of electricity was affected by numerous factors that led to reduced levels of consumption, such as load shedding and a continuous drive from Eskom in encouraging users to save on electricity consumption."
The estimated production of electricity in December 2008 decreased by 10.4% compared with December 2007.
Similarly, the production of electricity by Eskom decreased by 10.3% for the same month of 2008.
The estimated production of electricity during the fourth quarter of 2008 decreased by five percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2007.
The estimated production of electricity, after seasonal adjustment, for the fourth quarter of 2008 decreased by 3.6% compared with the third quarter of 2008.
Statistics SA said that overall, the estimated production of electricity for the year 2008 decreased by two percent compared with the year 2007.
During 2008, electricity distributed to the provinces by Eskom decreased by 2.5% compared with 2007.
The only increase was reported for Limpopo (1.3%).
Decreases were reported for Mpumalanga (-0.3%), the Western Cape (-0.7%), Gauteng (-2.5%),the Eastern Cape (-3.4%), the Free State and North West (-3.9%), KwaZulu-Natal (-4.5%) and the Northern Cape (-5.2%).
International trade in electricity also decreased.
"The volume of electricity imported from outside South African borders decreased from 11 348 gigawatt-hours in 2007 to 10 567 gigawatt-hours in 2008, which represents a decrease of 6.9%.
The amount of electricity sold outside South African borders during 2008 decreased by 2.3% from 14 496 gigawatt-hours in 2007 to 14 157 gigawatt-hours in 2008.
Statistics SA said the annual net outflow of electricity increased by 442 gigawatt-hours from 3 148 gigawatt-hours in 2007 to 3 590 gigawatt-hours in 2008.
- SAPA