The state's newest energy trend report shows the amount of electricity sold in the state fell by 3.3 percent in September when compared with the same month in 2007.

The report by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism said 880.4 million kilowatt-hours of electricity were sold during the month by electric utilities, which consumed less fuel oil and diesel oil during the month.

The report also noted that gasoline use had increased by 6.7 percent during the month. But the usage data is pulled from tax filings, and strict comparisons over year earlier periods may not always be accurate because of the way taxes are filed.

When a month ends on a weekend or holiday, tax reports filed on those days may fall into the next month, possibly inflating those numbers. August 2008 ended on a Sunday, thus some gasoline tax reports may have been filed in September.

The report said through the first nine months gasoline use had declined 9 percent in the state compared with the similar 2007 period.