Beijingers used less water in 2005, or 27.5 tons per capita, indicating a drop of 11.3 percent over the previous year, said sources with the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics.

Meanwhile, Beijing residents consumed less electricity, or 527.3 kwh per capita, down 15.5 percent, statistics show.

The bureau attributed the decrease to the enhancing awareness of energy-saving by the residents.

While the gas consumption reported a slight increase in the past year, or 53.2 cubic meters per capita, up 4.1 percent, statistic show.

In 2005, the per capita spending on water, electricity and fuel was 527.7 yuan (65.5 U.S. dollars), rising by merely 0.1 percent over 2004.

"The growth rate was 20 percentage points lower than that of 2004, and it was the lowest in the past five years," the bureau said.

Source: Xinhua