Brasília, December 5, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The consumption of electric energy billed by concessionaries increased 16.1% in October, in comparison with October, 2001. During the course of the year the cumulative rate is negative, but only by 0.3%, which confirms that consumption will experience growth by the end of the year. This result, verified in the monthly study carried out by Eletrobrás's Department of Energy and Market Studies, corroborates the diagnosis that industry, especially export-oriented agroindustry, has been the segment responsible for the recovery in the level of consumption. (DAS)