South Africa’s power consumption jumped 7,5% year-on-year to 18 850 GWh in December, its biggest increase since February 2004 when consumption rose 6,9% year-on-year, official data by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) showed on Thursday.

Electricity usage for the three months ended December 31, 2009, rose by 3%, or 1 680 GWh to 57 999 GWh, compared with 56 319 GWh used in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Power consumption for 2009 declined by 2,7%, or 6 322 GWh, to 229 602 GWh, compared with the 235 924 GWh consumed in 2008.

Stats SA pointed out that this followed on a 2,2% decline in consumption between 2007 and 2008.

Meanwhile, electricity output in December showed a 7,2% year-on-year increase, while electricity production for the fourth quarter of 2009 increased by 1,3% on that produced in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Electricity production, however, declined by 3,4% year-on-year for the full year.

During 2009, South Africa imported 12 295 GWh, 16,3% more than the 10 672 GWh imported during the previous year.

Electricity imports for December rose 3,4% to 1 112 GWh, compared with the 1 075 GWh imported during December 2008, while imports for the three months ended December increased to 3 167 GWh, a 30% increase on the 2 431 GWh imported in the last three months of 2008.

Meanwhile, exports to neighbouring countries declined by 0,8% to 14 052 GWh during 2009.

Electricity exports, however, increased by 6% year-on-year to 1 263 GWh in December, while exports for the three months ended December rose 1,8% to 3 764 GWh, compared with the 3 699 GWh exported in the three months ended December 2008.