In 2022, the country's electricity consumption ed growth of 1,2% compared to the previous year. THE largest contribution came from the trade and services sector, although characterized by lower intensity of electrical energy consumption compared to industry.
Last year, total electricity consumption in the commerce and services sector grew by 5,4% compared to 2021, reaching a value of 92,5 TWh. According to the Energy Research Company's (EPE) Quarterly Electricity Consumption Bulletin, this result is already higher than that recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 (92,1 TWh).
The resumption of in-person services activity helped the sector's growth. In this segment, the growth in consumption stands out in the South (+6,9%), North (+6,8%) and Central-West (+5,5%) regions.
Residential class consumption grew 1,1% last year, reaching 153 TWh. The increase in consumption in the class was driven by the increase in the residential consumer base (+3,6%), as average residential consumption fell (-2,4%).
In 2022, the North (+5,8%), South (+3,7%) and Central-West (+1,0%) showed an expansion in electricity consumption in the class; while the Northeast (+0,1%) and Southeast (0,0%) ed stability.
In industry, the expansion was 0,4%, reaching 183 TWh. Seven of the ten most electro-intensive sectors in the industry increased their consumption, with emphasis on paper and cellulose (+5%) and food products (+3,8%). In the first case, maintenance shutdowns of large self-production units increased consumption on the network.
The other sectors with an increase in electricity consumption were: rubber products and plastic material (+2,4%), chemical products (+2,1%), metallurgy (+1,3%), extraction of metallic minerals (+ 1,0%) and metal products, except machinery and equipment (+0,3%).
4st quarter
National electricity consumption grew 1% in the fourth quarter of the year compared to the same period in 2021. Among the main consumption classes, the highlight is the 3,3% increase observed in the residential class and 1,6% in the commercial class, while the industrial class showed stability (+0,1%).
In the case of homes (39,3 GWh), consumption growth appears to be related to higher temperatures in some regions. Furthermore, the recovery scenario in the labor market, with a reduction in unemployment and growth in average real income compared to the same period in 2021, may have influenced the performance of this class.
Industrial consumption (46 TWh) remained stable compared to the fourth quarter of 2021. However, six of the ten most electro-intensive sectors of industry showed an increase in electricity consumption. The metallurgy (+4,7%), automotive (+3%) and food product manufacturing (+2,6%) sectors are worth highlighting.
In the case of the commercial sector (23,3 TWh), the increase is associated with the expansion of services activity. The rate slowed compared to the previous six quarters. It was the lowest rate since the second quarter of 2021. Click here to read the full report.
