Energy Consumption
There were almost 2.3 million domestic meter points and just under 252,000 industrial and commercial consumers of electricity in the South West during 2005. Over 1.6 million domestic users also received a gas supply, in addition to almost 28,000 industrial and commercial users (DTI, 2007).
The average domestic consumer in Great Britain consumed 4,606 kWh of electricity in 2005. Average domestic consumption was highest in the South West, with 4,989 kWh, 8% higher than the average for Great Britain. Consumption was lowest in the North East with 3,889 kWh. Domestic properties in Cornwall had the highest electricity consumption in the region (6,152 kWh), whilst the lowest was found in the Former Avon area (4,654 kWh).
Households also consumed an average of 17,311 kWh of gas, the lowest rate in Great Britain, some 9% lower than the national average of 19,020 kWh. Gas consumption was highest in Wiltshire (18,304 kWh) and lowest in Cornwall (13,599 kWh) (DTI, 2007).
Industry and commerce in the region consumed an average of 62,847 kWh of electricity in 2005, this was around 20% lower than the national average of 78,223 kWh and the 2nd lowest rate in behind Greater London with 62,605 kWh. (DTI, 2007). Average industrial & commercial electricity consumption was highest in Gloucestershire (85,533 kWh) and lowest in Cornwall (46,540 kWh).
An average of 584,372 kWh of gas was also consumed by industry & commerce in the region in 2005, the 3rd lowest in the country, some 10% below the national average of 64,5050 kWh. Industry and commerce consumed significantly more gas in Somerset than any other county in the region over 1.1 million kWh), whilst those in Dorset consumed the least (360,034 kWh).
Research into forecasting the region’s expected electricity demand in 2020 has looked at two possible scenarios. Assuming the continuation of the Government’s climate change programme and energy measures, energy demand could increase by 15% by 2020. However, if all the savings forecast in the Energy White Paper are met, regional energy demand could decrease by over 11% (GOSW and the South West Regional Assembly, 2005).
More information about energy consumption is available from the South West Observatory Environment website. There are also climate change indicators used to monitor progress of the Regional Environment Strategy.