Under the influence of the seasonal factor, Macao's total consumption of electricity increased by 4.9 percent to 967.6 million kWh in the second quarter of 2010 over the same period of last year, according to the figures released on Thursday by Macao's Office for the Development of Energy Sector.

Of the electricity consumed in the second quarter, 79.1 percent were imported, amounting to 765.1 million kWh, a year-on-year increase of 64.7 percent, the figures indicated.

Meanwhile, local generation of electricity totaled 181.7 million kWh in the period, dropping by 58.6 percent.

Imports of natural gas for electricity generation increased substantially 31 percent year-on-year to 29.57 million cubic meters in the period, according to the Office.