Electricity use soars

The extensive use of air conditioners by households for heating purposes, in an effort to reduce spending on heating oil, is the reason why demand for electrical energy by households and small enterprises soared by 9.3 percent in November compared to the same month last year, according to grid operator DESMIE.

Total demand for power grew by 7.27 percent owing to the drop in demand from large industries by 3.6 percent year-on-year.

This is an unprecedented development in the market and is due to the high cost of central heating, with consumers turning not only to air-conditioning systems but also to electric radiators and heaters.

Many apartment blocks have decided no to buy any heating oil at all, forcing residents to turn to electricity to keep warm.