Household energy use keeps falling

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From the ABS today comes the Energy Account for 2013-14, which has revealed that household energy use has declined again:

Energy use per household is affected by a number of factors, including economic (increases in energy costs), technological (increase in take up of photovoltaic and thermal solar energy generation), energy conservation measures (insulation and energy audits), as well as increased energy efficiency of household appliances. Structural changes also have an impact on households over a longer period. For example, the household demographic trend toward more single person households should drive down energy use per household, while being countered by a trend towards larger four or more bedroom houses which consume more energy for heating and cooling.

◾Energy use per Australian household decreased by 1 GJ from 2012-13 to 2013-14 at the same time as the number of households increased by approximately 165,000.
◾Since 2002-03, energy use per capita has decreased by 5% and per household by 7%
◾The total energy use by Australian households has increased by 13% from 2002-03 to 2013-14, while the number of Australian households increased by 21% and the population grew 19%.
◾Household renewable energy extraction has increased by 38% from 2002-03 to 2013-14 including an increase of 5% from 2012-13 to 2013-14.

About the author
Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness. Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.