RAMALLAH, August 28, 2006, (WAFA) The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said that 66.9% of households in the Palestinian Territory are utilizing solar energy by using solar energy heaters in April 2006, while it was 68.0% during July 2005.

According to a press release on the "Results of Household Energy Survey (April 2006)" PCBS noted that this percentage differs within the Palestinian regions in April 2006, it was about 75.1% in Gaza Strip and 62.8% in the West Bank.

The results of the survey indicated that the average household electricity consumption (from the households that used electricity) in the Palestinian Territory during April 2006 was 211 KWh, where this average was 380.1 KWh during July 2005, while it was 380.1KWh during the same month 1999.

"This average ranged by region and type of locality in April 2006, it reached 278 KWh in the Middle of the West Bank and didn't exceed 184 KWh in the North of West Bank. This average was about 222 KWh in urban localities and 182 KWh in rural localities, and 216 KWh in refugee camps. And the average per capita electricity consumption in the Palestinian Territory during April 2006 was 39.7 KWh," PCBS said.

The data of the survey showed that the average household gasoline consumption (from the households that used gasoline) in the Palestinian Territory during April 2006 was 9 liters, while this average was 11 liters during July 2005.

This average was about 11 liters in urban localities, 9 liters in rural localities and 4 liters in refugee camps. This average ranged by region and type of locality, it reached 17 liters in the Middle of West Bank and didn't exceed 9 liters in the North of the West Bank, and 4 liters in Gaza Strip.

The PCBS survey provides data on the main indicators of energy (electricity, petroleum fuel) in the household activities including cooking, baking, water heating, lighting, heating, and conditioning.

The findings of the survey indicated that the average household liquefied petroleum gas consumption (from the households that used liquefied petroleum gas) in the Palestinian Territory during April 2006 was 18 Kg, which was the same in July 2005, while this quantity was 21 Kg in July 1999 and 2001. This average ranged by region and Type of Locality in April 2006. It reached 22 kg in the Middle of the West Bank, and didn't exceed 17 kg in the North of the West Bank.

The results of the survey indicated that 99.3% of households in the Palestinian Territory were connected to the public electricity network in April 2006, where this percentage was 97.2% during July 2005, while it was 97.2% during the same month 1999. 0.6% have no electricity services, 0.1% of the households have their own generators. From the results, it is noted that South of the West Bank has the lowest percentage of households connected to electricity network (99.0%). The situation is different in Gaza Strip which has 99.6% of the households connected to electricity network during April 2006.

14.7% of households in the Palestinian Territory have used conditioning facilities, distributed as 7.9% in the West Bank, and 26.6% in Gaza Strip in April 2006. Also, The results of the survey indicated that 9.2% of households in the Palestinian Territory have used heating facilities, distributed as 13.6% in the West Bank, and 0.5% in Gaza Strip in April 2006.

The findings of the survey indicated that 98.9% of households in the Palestinian Territory have used gas ovens for the purpose of preparing food (cooking) in April 2006. And 12.2% of the households used wood burner, and 4.7% of the households used electrical ovens.

S.A.S. (15:37 P) (12:37 GMT)