SEC capacity has grown, report says

SEC: Capacity and demand on the rise.

The Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) said its power generation capacity rose to almost 45.400 megawatts in the first quarter of 2010, up 76% from 25.800 MW in April 2000, reported the Jeddah-based Okaz newspaper on Saturday.

The length of the utility's electricity transmission networks increased 45% to nearly 42.800 kilometers from 29.600 kilometers in 2000, while the distribution grid grew 63% to nearly 368.400 kilometers from almost 226.700 kilometers over the period, says the paper, citing an report by the majority state-owned SEC.

Over the same period, the number of subscribers increased to 5.77 million from 3.5 million, adds Okaz.

The SEC recently reported an increased net loss in Q1, which the company explained with higher costs from buying power and lower seasonal demand. The net loss increased to US$208.5 million from US$205.5 million a year earlier, the SEC said in a statement on the Saudi bourse Website.

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