Electricity consumption in South Africa rose by 8,5% year-on-year in February, while electricity production increased by 9,1% year-on-year in February, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reported on Thursday.

It added that electricity consumption for the three months ended February 2010 was up 8,1% on the amount of electricity consumed in the three months ended February 2009.

Consumption for the three months was also up 0,7% on the three months ended November last year.

Further, the volume of electricity purchased from outside South Africa increased by 0,8% to 2 117 GWh in the first two months of 2010, compared with the first two months of 2009.

However, the volume of electricity sold to neighbouring countries increased by 13% or 270 GWh compared with the first two months of last year, stated Stats SA.