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Electricity demand has continued to decline, according to the regular monthly statistics from transmission operator EirGrid.

Figures for last month are down 7.5 per cent on October 2008 and year-to-date demand has fallen 5.9 per cent compared to the same nine-month period.

EirGrid publishes statistics on a regular basis on demand for power, as well as figures relating to connection of renewable energy, maximum output of wind energy, and installed generation.

Eaerlier this year it forecast that power demand will fall by between 4 per cent and 5 per cent this year, and by 1 per cent to 3 per cent in 2010 as a result of the recession.