Electricity consumption by the manufacturing sector rose by only 0.5%, said the NBS, reflecting large-scale shutdowns of inefficient
and unneeded capacity.
By contrast, electricity consumption by service industries – which the 2016-2020 plan aims to encourage – was up by 9.2%.
However, household electricity demand rose 7.7%, a figure that suggests China will have to do more in improving efficiency and the
use of smart grids and meters to curb the impact of new gadgets and appliances.
Energy-hungry products such as refrigerators, air conditioners, cookers, tumble dryers and electronic gadgets have become
increasingly affordable for China’s middle class, and at a time of mass migration to its cities, which further stokes up demand for
electric products. It should be said, though, that per capita electricity use in China is just a fifth of that in the US for example.
