Rio, October 7, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Electric energy consumption grew 5% in Brazil during the first seven months of the year. 174,053 GWh were billed. These data, released on Monday (6) by Eletrobrás's department of Energy and Market Studies, indicate that 3.2% more energy was consumed in July, 2003, than in July, 2002.

Based on a survey of the 79 companies that make up the current list of electric energy concessionaries, Eletrobrás discovered that commercial consumers, who accounted for 15% of total consumption in July, presented the highest rate of growth, 6.3% more than in July, 2002.

Using the same basis of comparison, the industrial sector increased its consumption 0.9%, to 10,818 GWh, approximately 44% of the country's total energy consumption. Residential consumption grew 4.1%, to 6,057 GWh.

Eletrobrás data also indicate that, in July, 2003, the North System, by itself, experienced the greatest rate of growth in the number of residential consumers, 5.7% more than in July, 2002. In the Southeast/South/Center-West System, in which 72% of the country's residential consumers are concentrated, the growth rate came to 2.7%, on the same basis of comparison. (DAS)