Inefficient Energy Use Costs Nearly $600 Million

Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian said poor energy consumption habits inflict hefty economic losses on the country and should be changed through efficient strategies.
"The nation's rate of electricity consumption rises by 5-7% or 5,000 megawatts each year," Ardakanian was also quoted as saying by ILNA on Wednesday.
"The rising demand forces Energy Ministry to provide new facilities to compensate the shortages, which cost the country over 250 trillion rials [$595 million at the official rate]," he added.
The minister said the hefty amount is spent on building new power plants to meet the 150-200 hours of summer peak. The official underlined the need to overhaul consumption models and raise public and organizational awareness, instead of trying to find new energy sources.