In the first ten months, power use rose 0.7 percent from a year earlier to 4.58 trillion kwh, according to data released by the National Energy Administration (NEA).
Electricity use in October was mainly dragged down by a continued drop in power consumption by the metallurgical and building material industries, among others.
China's value-added industrial output of the electricity, heating, gas and water sectors lost 0.3 percent in October, while September saw 0.7-percent growth.
Electricity use in the service sector rose 7.1 percent in the first ten months, the agricultural sector posted a 3.0 percent increase, while use by the industrial sector dropped 1.1 percent from a year earlier, the NEA said.
The different rates reflect positive changes in China's economic structure, as power use by the service sector looks set to surpass the industrial sector.
