Saudi Gazette report RIYADH – Households in Saudi Arabia consume almost half of electricity produced in the Kingdom, according to the annual report of the Electricity & Co-Generation Regulatory Authority (ERCA). The household sector represented 48 percent of the total electricity consumption in 2013. Five million subscribers consumed 126,112,997 megawatts per hour, with 70 percent of electricity consumption going on air-conditioning, the report said. The number of electricity consumers in the Kingdom rose by 6.1 percent to more than seven million in 2013, said the report carried by the Saudi Press Agency on Monday. The Saudi Electricity Co. (SEC) managed to save 256688 gigawatts of the year. This was an increase of 6.8 percent comparing with 2012. The number of electricity consumers stood at 7,142,816 in 2013. The government spent SR150 billion in 2013 to help make the electricity available at reasonable rates to consumers. The average unit cost of energy (kilowatt per hour) paid by SEC and other energy companies amounted to 15.2 halalas, based on the reduced price of fuel provided by the state, which is far less than the global average. The report also highlighted the positive outcome of the efforts being made by the Saudi Center for Energy Efficiency to conserve power. The center, in coordination with more than 20 government and private agencies, also strives to spread public awareness in order to consolidate the concept of energy efficiency and strengthen the smart rationalization methods for all types of electricity consumption. It demands consumers to embrace the concept of “energy efficiency and rationalization of consumption” in all walks of life. According to energy experts, Saudi Arabia is among the nations which consume a higher rate of energy. The average consumption in the Kingdom is almost double the average global consumption. The experts said that even a little change in daily lifestyle like switching off unnecessary lights, and turning off air-conditioners while leaving the room will do a lot in saving electricity. They also drew attention to studies that up to 30 percent of electricity could be saved if there is rationalization of power.
