The estimated consumption of electricity was 4.0 percent lower in May 2009 compared with May 2008, Statistics SA said on Thursday.

The estimated production of electricity in May 2009 represented a decline of 4.7 percent compared with the May 2008 figure, the Pretoria-based agency added.

Electricity distributed to the provinces for the first five months of 2009 was 6.2 percent lower compared with the first five months of 2008.

Statistics SA said lower figures were reported for eight provinces during this period ranging from -13.1 percent for North West to -1.6 percent for Northern Cape.

KwaZulu-Natal was the only province with an increase (0.4 percent) during this period.

The volume of electricity imported from outside South African borders increased from 3930 Gigawatt-hours in the first five months of 2008 to 5008 Gigawatt-hours in the first five months of 2009, representing a rise of 27.4 percent, the agency added.

The volume of electricity exported to neighbouring countries for the first five months of 2009 decreased by 4.7 percent compared with the first five months of 2008, from 5635 Gigawatt-hours to 5370 Gigawatt-hours, Statistics SA said.

Sapa