BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.31
By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
Domestic consumption of electricity in Georgia increased by 1.4 percent year-on-year and reached 12.8 TWh in 2019, Trend reports with reference to Georgian investment company Galt & Taggart.
As reported, the growth was far below expected. The slowdown in growth is mainly explained by climate conditions.
Additionally, a 7.8 percent decrease in Georgian Manganese electricity consumption reduced overall consumption growth by 0.7 percentage points.
Electricity consumption dynamics of certain consumer groups are explained by legislative changes. Consumption by eligible consumers (also known as direct consumers) increased by 59.6 percent year-on-years, while distribution licensees’ consumption was down by 11.6 percent year-on-year in 2019.
From the group of distribution licensees, Energo-pro Georgia’s consumption reduced the most (by 16.3 percent year-on-year), as its several subscribers were registered as direct consumers.
In line with market deregulation, started in 2018, all companies with average monthly consumption over 5 GWh were mandatory registered as direct consumers. As a result, the number of direct consumers increased from 2 to total 15 companies. Moreover, their share in overall domestic consumption increased from 12 percent in 2017 to 22.4 percent in 2019.
According to Galt & Taggart company, Georgian Electricity System Commercial Operator of Georgia (ESCO) was the main provider of energy to the direct consumers.
In 2019, despite the slowdown in consumption growth, electricity imports and thermal generation increased by 7.8 percent year-on-year and by 34.3 percent year-on-year, respectively. This growth is associated to 10.1 percent year-on-year decrease in hydro generation, attributable to bad hydrological conditions.
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