THE use of electricity in the Balearic Islands fell by 0.8 percent between January and July this year compared with the same period in 2008.
Power suppliers GESA-Endesa confirmed yesterday that consumption from 1st January to 5th July last year stood at 3'064'845 megawatts per hour (mw/h) but slipped for the same dates in 2009 to 3'041'107 mw/h.
Josep Oliver who is President of the Balearic Business Association (CAEB) explained that part of the downturn is due to the falling-off of industrial activity in the region and to householders making a conscious effort to cut down on electricity consumption to save money. GESA meanwhile is not expecting any demands for electricity to be broken on Majorca or Minorca this summer. With demand last year in high season reaching 1'099 mw/h, GESA is forecasting only 1'050.6 mw for peak times in 2009, a decline of 4 percent. On Ibiza and Formentera however, an upturn of 1 percent in electricity usage is predicted this year.