8/14/2019 UAE Electricity and Water Consumption Report

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8/14/2019 UAE Electricity and Water Consumption Report

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REPORTWater and electricity consumption by residential customers

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Abu Dhabi Emirate tops the average consumption list (see

Table 2), because individual consumption-rates in villas are

exceptionally high. The additional water used by villas is mainly

a product of large gardens.

Table 3: average annual cost per person

Customer Property AED per person

Abu Dhabi flats 128 177

overall 422 482

Singapore overall 588

Source: Bureau calculations, UAE calculations based on 10 AED/TIG

Despite higher consumption in the Emirate, the average annual

cost for water consumed by each person in Singapore

is 22-39% higher (see Table 3).

Electricity

Residential consumption

Residential customers have the largest share of electricity

consumption in the Emirate. They consume a third more than

government and schools and almost twice as much as

commercial customers.

Figure 3: users of electricity

39%21%

11%

29%

Residential Commercial Govt & schools Agriculture

Source: share of metered units

Residential consumption is measured per customer accountrather than per person. It is only affected marginally by the

number of people in a property.

Table 4: electricity consumption per account

kWh per year

Nationals 71,000

Ex-pats 26,500

Whole population 41,000

Source: Distribution company AISs (2006)

The distribution companies annual submissions give average

residential consumption of 41,000 kWh a year. UAE-nationals

have the greater consumption (see Table 4); close to

three-times the average for ex-pats. This reflects that a larger

proportion of UAE-nationals live in villas. Villas have large

demand for a/c, particularly in the summer.

The PB Power surveys found notable differences in

consumption between property types (see Table 5).

Table 5: consumption by property and nationality

Nationality Property kWh per year

Ex-pats flats 7,200 12,400

villas 32,100 97,000

UAE-nationals flats* 12,000

villas 93,000 97,000

shabiyat 69,000 80,000

Source: PB Power surveys (2005 and 2007)

Notes: * = limited data available, so range is not possible

Flats have substantially lower consumption. Virtually all benefit

from centralised air-conditioning (a/c) systems that are owned,

operated and paid for by a landlord. Residents in villas are

charged for all electricity used by their a/c systems, regardless

of design.

Table 6: international comparison of consumption

Country kWh per year Comment

Abu Dhabi Emirate 7,250 12,350 flats-only

USA (south only) 13,6001997 level, 90% ofhouseholds use a/c

Singapore 3,000-6,9001997, flats only, 53% use a/c.Upper value for executivehousing, most have a/c

Sources: Emirate of Abu Dhabi distribution company AISs for 2006

US Energy Information Administration (1999),A look at residential energyconsumption in 1997

Singapore Figure 7 in http://www.nccc.gov.sg/aboutnccc/report.shtm

Despite consumption differences amongst these countries, the

average annual bills have distinct overlaps (see Table 7).

Table 7: average annual bills

Customer Property AED

Abu Dhabi ex-pats flats 1,100 1,850

villas 4,800 14,650

UAE-nationals flats* 600

villas 4,650 4,850

shabiyat 3,450 4,000

US (south only) all 5,000

Singapore flats 1,364 3,131

Source: Bureau calculations