Energy consumption in September was the highest in the historical series for the month

The month of September not only showed an increase of 3.4% in energy consumption compared to the same month last year, but also registered the highest amount consumed for the ninth month of the year in the entire historical series, which began in 2004.

The record was observed both in the consumption of electricity in the commercial class (7,278 GWh) and in the consumption of the residential class (12.6 thousand GWh). Industry consumption, which also showed an increase in comparison with September last year, registered the highest consumption for September since 2014 (14.8 thousand GWh).

Consumption accumulated in the last 12 months totaled 498.6 thousand GWh, which represents an expansion of 5.5% compared to the same previous period. The data are from Energy Research Company (EPE), linked to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, which helps the National Electric System Operator (ONS) with information for decision-making.

According to EPE, the growth of residential energy consumption was driven by the hotter and drier climate in much of the national territory. The increase in the consumption of the commercial class, on the other hand, has a great influence on the recovery of the services sector in the country, especially those provided to families. The sector was positively impacted as a result of the advance of vaccination and the increase in urban mobility.

For researcher Diogo Lisbona, from the Center for Studies and Regulation in Infrastructure of the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (Ceri/FGV), the result is not surprising and this rise was already on the radar. According to him, this September increase comes at a time of recovery at a time when the pandemic is already under control and when there is a perspective of economic recovery.

He also says that part of the industry may have anticipated production and, with that, increased consumption due to the lack of supplies and an eye for a possible worsening in the following months, especially with the increase in the electricity bill, which should continue to suffer adjustments.

Professor at Coppe/UFRJ and former president of EPE, Maurício Tolmasquim, also stated that this expansion in consumption was expected. “Usually, consumption follows the growth of the economy. It is normal, therefore, for consumption to grow along with the economic recovery”, he said.

commercial grade consumption

Commercial class electricity consumption increased by 9.2% in September 2021, compared to the same period last year. All regions of the country registered growth in energy consumption. The highest rate of expansion was in the Northeast region, with an increase of 10.9%. Soon after comes the Southeast (+10.4%), South (+8.7%), North (+5.3%) and Midwest (+2.9%).

Among the states, Minas Gerais (+28.3%) and Amapá (+26.6%) had the highest consumption rates in the commercial class in the country. The states of Rondônia (-1.9%), Rio de Janeiro (-0.4%), Mato Grosso do Sul (-9.0%) and Goiás (-7.2%) were the only ones that had a decrease of energy consumption.

Residential Class Consumption

The expansion of consumption and energy in this class was 3%, compared to September last year, after two consecutive months of retraction. The Midwest (+7.8%), North (+5.2%), Northeast (+4.0%) and Southeast (+3.9%) regions showed an increase in the consumption of electricity in the class.

Only the southern region of the country (-4.8%) registered a reduction in consumption. The main highlights in the growth of consumption rates in the class were in the states of Amapá (+32.9%), Roraima (+20.5%) and Minas Gerais (+10.8%).

industrial class consumption

Industry consumption expanded by 1.6% compared to September this year and September last year. The Southeast region (+4.6%) was the one with the highest rate of expansion of industrial consumption in September. Among the states, the highlight was Alagoas (+104.4%), influenced mainly by the base effect in the chemical sector.

According to EPE, seven of the ten most electro-intensive segments of the industry, that is, those that demand the most energy, increased consumption in September this year, compared to the same period last year. Metallurgy led the increase, driven by primary aluminum in the North; followed by the manufacture of chemical products, which appeared in second place, with greater expansion mainly in the Southeast and the South.