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By Humphrey Carter LAST month was one of the hottest Septembers for many years and the Balearic power grid felt the strain. The second largest surge in demand of the year was experienced last month, bucking the trend after three consecutive months of a steady drop in electricity consumption. Power company Gesa Endesa reported yesterday that the demand for electricity last month shot up by 12.9 percent in Majorca alone. In Minorca, there was a surge of 11 percent and in the neighbouring islands of Ibiza and Formentera 12.2 percent.


Since the start of the year, demand for power in Majorca has risen by 3.1 percent, despite declines in June, July and August, traditionally the months when demand increases by 6.9, 4.4 and 1.4 percent respectively. The fact that there were less people than usual on the islands during the peak summer season months of June, July and August is one reason for the drop in electricity consumption. So far this year, Gesa reported a 1.5 percent rise in clients. Another reason is that energy saving schemes and the use of low-consumption domestic appliances is starting to have a positive effect.