MOSCOW, December 11. /TASS/. Electricity consumption in Russia has increased by 1.2% since the beginning of the year, excluding the temperature factor, while since the beginning of December the growth reached 1.73%, Deputy Energy Minister Evgeny Grabchak told reporters.

"There has been a 1.73% increase since the beginning of the month, and a 1.2% increase since the beginning of the year [as of the beginning of last week], not adjusted for temperature," he said, adding that given temperature conditions, in absolute terms, growth could reach 1.3 - 1.4%.

Electricity consumption growth is anticipated to reach 1.5% by the end of 2023. According to Grabchak, more growth could come from the launch of huge industrial projects, particularly in the Far East, next year, but the most of the launches are scheduled for the second half of 2024.