Consumo da energia elétrica no meio rural da região de Lavras-MG.

Abstract

The main objective of this research was to study the eleotricity consumption in the region comprised by the "Cooperativa de Eletrificação Rural do Vale do Rio Grande - CERVARIG" - with its headquarter in Lavras. The sample were 60 farmers (15% of the universe) interviewed directly through the survey method and these farmers were divided into four alasses (I to IV) according to the installed power as suah: 5, 10, 15 and above 15 KVA. The monthly average consumption from January to Deaember and the annual average consumption from 1969 to 1976 for all alasses showed that the greater the installed power the greater the consumption with higher consumption during September and October. It was concluded that in classes with higher consumption considering the monthly average consumption, this consumption was more due to activities outside home. For all classes it was observed that a year of high consumption was followed by one of small consumption and, there was no tendency to increase the consumption during the period from 1969 to 1976. It was verified a positive correlation between installed power and annual average consumption for all years from 1969 to 1976. For every instai 1 cd KVA there was an increase of 247,4 KWhr in consumption. There was a positive correlation between farm average area and ave rage consumption by farm; for every increase of one hectare in the size of the farm there was a correspondent increase of 4.8 KWhr in consumption (period from 1969 to 1976) or 5.2 KWhr, period of 1974 only). Taking into account farm size and farmer consumption, there £s a positive correlation which can be explaineã by the equation Y - 2421.7 + 4.7 X, considering all classes jointly. Considering each class independently this correlation was only true for class I (Y - 1360.8 +3.8 X), which contradicts the preceding statement that consumption is more affected by activities outside home in classes with higher consumption. If we take into consideration classes according to area, instead of classes by installed power, there is a positive correlation betwqen average consumption and average farm size for each class (Y - 2087.2 +5.8 X), however this is not true inside classes.