电力 consumption serves as a key indicator of economic development. According to the latest data, Shandong Province achieved a total social electricity consumption of 206.85 billion kilowatt-hours in the first quarter of this year, representing an increase of 3.2% compared to the same period last year. The breakdown by sector shows that the primary industry consumed 3.78 billion kilowatt-hours, the secondary industry accounted for 149.75 billion kilowatt-hours, and the tertiary industry used 27.00 billion kilowatt-hours, all showing an upward trend compared to the previous year.

In recent years, Shandong has actively promoted its "flagship project" in industrial economy by intensifying efforts in technological innovation and restructuring its industrial base. This transformation has significantly contributed to economic growth. The electricity data reveals that high-tech and equipment manufacturing sectors consumed 18.40 billion kilowatt-hours in the first quarter, up by 4.3% year-on-year, accounting for 12.4% of total industrial electricity usage. This sector alone contributed a 0.5 percentage point increase to overall industrial electricity consumption. Within this category, key sub-sectors stood out: computer, communication, and other electronic device manufacturing saw a growth of over 22%, instrument and equipment manufacturing grew by more than 11%, and the automotive industry increased its consumption by over 7%.

The rapid development of Shandong's digital industries has further driven electricity usage in information-related sectors. In the first quarter, the province's information transmission, software, and IT services consumed 1.60 billion kilowatt-hours, up by 4.7% year-on-year, representing 5.9% of total tertiary industry electricity use. The internet and related service industries experienced a significant surge in consumption, growing by an impressive 20.9%. This reflects the deep integration between digital economy and physical industries, showcasing the transformative impact of advanced technologies like big data and cloud computing.

The accelerating development of renewable energy has also resulted in increased electricity demand across related sectors. In the first quarter, new energy vehicle manufacturing saw a remarkable 55.3% increase in electricity consumption. Furthermore, as the number of electric vehicles continues to rise, the charging and swapping service industry has grown rapidly, with its electricity usage up by 64.4% year-on-year.

With social production showing strong momentum, consumer demand has also been steadily released, driving rapid growth in the wholesale and retail sectors. Data shows that these industries consumed 5.66 billion kilowatt-hours in the first quarter, up by 10.8% compared to the previous year.