The Electricity &Co-Generation Regulatory Authority (ECRA) approved last year, 14 authorizations of commencing studies to undertake projects in electricity generation, cogeneration, and water desalination, 28 licenses for electricity generation, transmission, trading, distribution, cogeneration and water desalination, and 13 exemptions from licensing for electricity generation, cogeneration and water desalination stations. In its annual report transmitted by Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Authority estimated the peak power load at about 39.900 MW, and total generation capacity available in the Kingdom by the end of last year at 51,195 MW, possessed by Saudi Electricity Company 79% and Saline Water conversion Corporation 10%, while the remaining percentage is divided among several producers. The authority has a total length of circuits at 39,195 km lines and ground lines at 3,508 km and the Company provided 193,472 gigawatts per hour, an increase of 6.8% in comparison with the previous year. The number of subscribers increased by 5.2% to reach the more than 5.7 million, residential sector accounts for 52%, commercial 12%, governmental 14%, 18% industrial and other sectors at 4%.
