Recently, cumulative annual electricity consumption of State Grid customers has reached 2,960 TWh, an increase of 0.73 TWh or 0.02% from a year earlier. This is the first time the cumulative growth rate has turned positive this year. Previously, the power use of State Grid customers continued to rebound, up 9.8% in August. This trend is primarily driven by the steady growth of economy, as well as the scorching summer weather, demonstrating the strong resilience and potential of the China’s economy.　

Looking at differenct sectors, the cumulative annual electricity consumption of primary, secondary, and tertiary industries and residents increased by 8.0%, -1.7%, -1.7%, and 7.2% year-on-year, respectively. The amount for the secondary and tertiary industries was still lower than in the same period last year, but the gap has narrowed significantly.

The cumulative annual power use of the equipment manufacturing industry, a pillar industrial sector, took the lead in exceeding the level registered at the same period last year, with a year-on-year increase of 1.3%. The cumulative annual growth rate of power use in the automobile and “new infrastructure”-related industries was relatively higher than in other sectors. The cumulative annual power use of computer, communications and other electronic equipment manufacturing industry, automobile manufacturing industry, and electrical machinery and equipment manufacturing industry increased by 9.5%, 8.9%, and 4.3% year-on-year, respectively.

In contrast, cumulative annual power use of some consumer discretionary sectors that are highly dependent on foreign trade was still far from positive growth year-on-year. The amounts for leather, fur, feathers and related products, and footwear industry, textiles industry, and clothing and fashion industry grew by -13.7%, -12.0%, and -10.2% year-on-year, respectively. However, it is worth noting that textile and fashion industry has shown signs of recovery recently, and the growth rate of their electricity consumption in August turned positive to 1.6%.

As for the tertiary industry, the growth rate of electricity consumption in the information transmission, software and IT service industries has kept growing, with a cumulative annual growth rate of 27.4%. The power use for health and social services is growing rapidly with a cumulative annual growth rate of 6.3%. The amount in most other service industries falls far below last year's level. Education, culture, sports and entertainment industries registered a growth of -19.8% year-on-year.

Regionally, electricity consumption in the west China was remarkably high.

The cumulative annual growth rate of electricity consumption by customers of southwest power grid reached 5.7%. This was primarily due to work resumption with the pandemic gradually under control. In particular, driven by “new infrastructure”-related projects, the power consumption of the secondary industry has increased significantly. The cumulative annual electricity consumption of southwest power grid saw positive growth in May, and summer heat waves have also stimulated the rapid growth of air-conditioning load, contributing to the rise.

The cumulative annual growth rate of power consumption in northwest power grid was 2.5%, second only to that of the southwest. This was mainly attributed to the electricity load from the production of ferroalloy, electrolytic aluminum and coal, which was less affected by the pandemic and resumed earlier than other sectors. As of September 2, the cumulative annual growth rate of electricity consumption by customers in Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, and Xinjiang turned positive, among which Gansu ranked first in all State Grid’s operating areas with a growth rate of 7.5%.

As a bellwether of economy, electricity data shows China’s economy is stable on the whole. In particular, the digital economy, “new infrastructure” and other related industries keep growing vigorously, injecting new momentum into economic development.