BEIJING -- Officials from China's national electricity company are predicting a jump in demand of more than 10 percent in 2005, according to state media. Xinhua reported that market analysts and forecasters at the State Grid Corporation of China are anticipating electricity demand to rise approximately 10.5 percent in 2005 to reach 2.39 trillion kilowatts per hour, an increase of 260 billion kwh over 2004.

China's power consumption is expected to rise 14.5 percent for all of this year, reaching 2.16 trillion kwh, 273 billion kwh more than the amount used in 2003.

Electricity use nationwide shot up 14.92 percent through the first nine months of the year, hitting 1.57 trillion kwh.

The company reported the top three reasons for increase in demand were industrial use, service trade ventures, and consumption by urban and rural residents.

Copyright 2004 by United Press International