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DNE publishes study on the Useful Energy Balance of the Residential Sector
08/21/2026
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The National Energy Directorate (DNE) of the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM) carried out the study of the Useful Energy Balance (BEU) of the Residential Sector corresponding to 2023. This work updates the consumption and equipment structure of Uruguayan homes, with a complete breakdown by energy sources and end uses, after the last baseline study carried out in 2006. The results are published in a report that analyzes in detail the net energy acquired by the homes and the useful energy effectively used.
In 2023, the residential sector in Uruguay recorded a total consumption of 854.7 ktoe of net energy and 645.8 ktoe of useful energy, and reached a global average utilization performance of 75.6%. The Useful Energy Balance prepared by MIEM-DNE updates the snapshot of household consumption after the last baseline balance carried out in 2006.
When analyzing the consumption basket, net energy is strongly concentrated in three sources that represent 96.5% of the total: electricity (43.4%), firewood (40.1%) and supergas/LPG (13.0%). However, when looking at useful energy (that which is actually used), the weight of electricity rises drastically to 74.1%, driven by the high efficiency of technologies such as air conditioning. On the other hand, firewood drops to 13.5% useful due to the low yields of traditional equipment (such as open stoves). Regarding the final uses of the home, heating concentrates the highest net demand (43.7%), followed by water heating (21.4%) and cooking (17.1%). Between the three they add up to 82.2% of the sector's requirements.
On the other hand, although comfort needs are similar throughout the country, the way they are supplied differs significantly: the interior has a high dependence on firewood for heating, which increases net consumption due to equipment inefficiency. Likewise, the income level (IPCE) acts as a central determinant of thermal comfort; Households with greater purchasing power have access to high-performance equipment, while lower-income sectors face barriers to acquiring efficient technologies, resulting in high net consumption but with lower real welfare benefits.
Finally, special thanks are due to all the Uruguayan households that opened their doors and participated in the survey, as well as UTE, Conecta and Montevideo Gas for the information provided for the development of this study.
Tags
Energy Planning, Statistics and Balance Surveys
