Air conditioning pushes electricity bills up by 30m euros

The use at maximum capacity of air conditioning units and electric fans during the heat wave is expected to increase electricity bills by at least 30 million euros this summer. In June and July, the additional sums collected by the eight Electrica divisions amounted to 65 million RON (20 million euros). If weather forecasts for August are correct, the population’s air conditioning “bill” for this summer could amount to 30 million euros.
Electricity bills increased throughout the country by 14% in June and 21% in July, against June and July 2006, according to Electrica data calculated in RON. In total, the eight electricity suppliers collected 433 million RON in the June-July period of this year, against 368 million RON collected in the corresponding period of last year. Half of these sums will go into the accounts of Electrica, which includes within its portfolio Electrica Muntenia Nord, Electrica Transilvania Sud, Electrica Transilvania and Electrica Muntenia Sud.
The biggest increases in consumption were registered in the Bucharest area, where record levels were registered in July, with the average consumption of 700 MWH being exceeded by 50% due to the excessive use of air conditioning units and electric fans.
“A comparative analysis of the electricity consumption for household consumers in June 2007 against June 2006 and in July 2007 against July 2006 indicated that consumption had increased by 5% and 12% respectively,” say Electrica representatives. Household consumption was estimated to account for around 30% of June’s total consumption and of the first 26 days of July. The average price was 0.2993 RON/kWh, 9% higher against the same period of 2006.
The extremely high temperatures registered this summer, which generated a record consumption of electricity, yielded a big part of the business increase forecast by Electrica for this year.
“Following our evaluations, the company could post a 6.4 billion RON (1.88 billion euros) turnover this year, up 7% against last year,” stated Electrica officials. Revenues collected in the first half of this year account for the bulk of Electrica’s business increase.
“The increase in electricity consumption, following the rise in temperatures, is mainly due to the extensive, even non-stop use in most cases, of air conditioning units, electric fans and refrigerators, and to the simultaneous use of several electronic devices and home appliances,” added the quoted sources.
According to data supplied by the company, the difference between revenues collected in June 2007 against June 2006 stands at 28 million RON, while in July 2007 compared with July 2006, national revenues increased by 36.5 million RON.
In July alone, electricity bills reached 207.6 million RON (66.3 million euros) countrywide, 21% higher against the same time last year. In June, national household consumption stood at almost 225 million RON (70 million euros), 14% higher than in the same month last year. Half of these sums are destined for Electrica’s accounts, while the remainder will go to the accounts of the privatised branches. In June, national household consumption stood at 751,494 MWH, up 5% against the same time last year.