The estimated consumption of electricity in April 2009 decreased by 6.2% compared with April 2008, the Pretoria-based agency said.<\/p>\n
It added that electricity consumed for the first four months of 2009 decreased by 7.0% compared with the first four months of 2008.<\/p>\n
However, electricity consumption after seasonal adjustment for April 2009 increased by 2.0% compared with March 2009.<\/p>\n
According to Statistics SA, production of electricity was at a lower level than a year ago.<\/p>\n
The estimated production of electricity in April 2009 decreased by 5.7% compared with April 2008, it said.<\/p>\n
The estimated production of electricity for the first four months of 2009 decreased by 8.1% compared with the first four months of 2008.<\/p>\n
However, the estimated production of electricity, after seasonal adjustment, increased by 2.7% for April 2009 compared with March 2009.<\/p>\n
According to Statistics SA, distribution of electricity by Eskom to the provinces decreased for the first four months of 2009 by 7.0% compared with the first four months of 2008.<\/p>\n
Decreases were reported for all the provinces during this period ranging from minus 14.8% for North West to minus 0.7% for KwaZulu-Natal.<\/p>\n
Statistics SA said the volume of electricity imported from outside South Africa’s borders increased from 3169 gigawatt-hours in the first four months of 2008 to 4071 gigawatt-hours in the first four months of 2009, representing an increase of 28.5%.<\/p>\n
However, the volume of electricity exported to neighbouring countries for the first four months of 2009 decreased by 5.6% compared with the first four months of 2008.<\/p>\n