Even though more homes and businesses are being built in Kitchener and Wilmot every year, the area’s power utility says it’s seeing less electricity use.

Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro saw a 0.63 per cent drop in demand in 2014 – in line with the Ontario-wide drop of 0.64 per cent.

Since 2010, according to hydro company president Jerry Van Ooteghem, there has been about a five per cent decline in local hydro consumption.

Some of the decline, Van Ooteghem said, can likely be chalked up to businesses better managing their electricity use and a relatively mild summer.

The utility brought 1,126 new properties onto the hydro grid in 2014.