China's electricity consumption drops 12.5% in Feb  

2月中國全社會用電3374億千瓦時 同比降12.5%

自去年10月以來連續三個月回暖的用電量數據在今年初卻有些遇冷。中國國家能源局14日發布的全社會用電量等數據顯示，2月份全社會用電量3374億千瓦時，同比下降12.5%。

Beijing (CNS) -- Electricity consumption in China in February reached 337.4 billion kwh, a decrease of 12.5 percent from the same period last year, according to the National Energy Administration on Thursday.

Latest data also show that in the first two months of 2013, the nation's electricity consumption was 789.2 billion kwh, a year-on-year increase of 5.5 percent. By industry, electricity consumption rose 4.3 percent in agriculture, 4.2 percent in the industrial sector and 13.8 percent in tertiary industries. Residential consumption increased by 4.7 percent.

Electricity consumption is a barometer of economic activity. China's proactive fiscal policy and prudent monetary policy are expected to further promote the economy, which will lead to a rebound in electricity demand. Electricity consumption in 2013 will see a year-on-year growth rate of 6.5 to 8.5 percent, a person in charge of the China Electricity Council predicted.