China's electricity consumption may increase 7 percent this year as government policies aimed at stabilizing economic growth take effect, according to the State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Demand may rise to 5.1 trillion kilowatt-hours, according to a report on the regulator's website released on Wednesday. Power use should accelerate toward the end of the year, it said. The pace of growth compares with 5.5 percent in the first half and 11.7 percent in 2011, according to the National Energy Administration.

China's economy expanded at the slowest pace in more than three years in the second quarter and electricity output stagnated in June compared with a year earlier.

China Daily - Agencies