Report Consumption

Water & Electricity

Introduction
This paper presents our assessment of customer consumption levels, using the latest available data. The principal sources are: Annual Information Submissions (AISs) from the distribution companies The 2005 Census for the UAE Customer consumption surveys conducted for the Bureau by PB Power in 2005 and 2007.
11% 44%
Figure 2: users of desalinated potable water

11%

Water
The Emirate of Abu Dhabi uses water from three sources: Desalinated, potable water Treated sewage effluent (TSE) Groundwater.
Figure 1: Abu Dhabis sources of water in 2003

33%

Residential

Govt & schools

Commercial

Agriculture

Source: Bureau data on share of metered units

Residential consumption We commissioned PB Power to carry out a number of surveys for us and the results are given below:
Table 1: consumption by property and nationality

17%

4%

Nationality Ex-pats UAE-nationals

Property flats villas flats# villas shabiyat

litres per capita per day 160 220 270 730 165 460 1,760 610 1,010

Source: PB Power surveys (2005 and 2007) * from AIS data and 2005 Census Notes: # = reduced data available, no range possible

79% Groundwater
Source: EAD

Treated sewage effluent

Desal

The Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi (EAD) states that groundwater is the most significant source of water in the Emirate (see Figure 1). In meeting 79% of water needs1 its only use is irrigation groundwater is not potable water. Estimates of personal consumption focus on the potable water used by residential customers. This accounts for less than half (44%) of metered desalinated water (see Figure 2). Residential customers use neither TSE nor groundwater, although a small number may have access to bore-holes in rural areas.

The broadly similar consumption for UAE-nationals and ex-pats in flats provides a benchmark for essential needs. Regardless of who lives in a flat, their water requirements remain the same cooking, cleaning, washing and flushing. This consumption (160 to 220 lcd) certainly provides the minimum for essential needs. This compares favourably with usage in the UK of 141 to 153 lcd, see Table 2.
Table 2: international comparison of consumption
Country Abu Dhabi Emirate Singapore USA UK litres per capita per day 270 1,760 160 220 330 305 141 Comment villas flats only overall figure for 1980 metered

Source: Bureau calculations for Abu Dhabi, and OECD (1999), the price of water: trends in OECD countries
1

http://www.soe.ae/Abu_Themespage.aspx?m=50&amid=494

Page | 1

REPORT Water and electricity consumption by residential customers

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 Abu Dhabi Singapore Property flats overall overall AED per person 128 177 422 482 588

The PB Power surveys found notable differences in consumption between property types (see Table 5).
Table 5: consumption by property and nationality
Nationality Ex-pats UAE-nationals Property flats villas flats* villas shabiyat kWh per year 7,200 12,400 32,100 97,000 12,000 93,000 97,000 69,000 80,000

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

Source: PB Power surveys (2005 and 2007) Notes: * = limited data available, so range is not possible

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

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 Abu Dhabi Emirate USA (south only) Singapore kWh per year 7,250 12,350 13,600 3,000-6,900 Comment flats-only 1997 level, 90% of households use a/c 1997, flats only, 53% use a/c. Upper value for executive housing, most have a/c

11%

Sources: Emirate of Abu Dhabi distribution company AISs for 2006 US Energy Information Administration (1999), A look at residential energy consumption in 1997 Singapore Figure 7 in http://www.nccc.gov.sg/aboutnccc/report.shtm

39% 21%

Despite consumption differences amongst these countries, the average annual bills have distinct overlaps (see Table 7).
Table 7: average annual bills
Customer Abu Dhabi ex-pats UAE-nationals Property flats villas flats* villas shabiyat all flats 1,100 4,800 AED 600 4,650 3,450 5,000 1,364 1,850 14,650 4,850 4,000 3,131

Residential

29% Commercial

US (south only) Singapore

Govt & schools

Agriculture

Source: Bureau calculations

Source: share of metered units

Residential consumption is measured per customer account rather than per person. It is only affected marginally by the number of people in a property.
Table 4: electricity consumption per account
Nationals Ex-pats Whole population
Source: Distribution company AISs (2006)

kWh per year 71,000 26,500 41,000

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.

Page | 2