In　the　past　2　decades,　China　has　experienced　rapid　economic　growth,　urbanization　and　increase　in　household　energy　use.　Such　change　is　expected　to　strongly　influence　both　the　family　structure　and　behaviour,　and　in　turn　will　have　an　effect　on　dwelling　size　and　energy　consumption.　Using　statistical　data　from　the　on　demography　and　energy　from　three　main　regions　in　the　Yangtze　River　basin,　a　comparative　analysis　of　the　effect　of　urbanization　on　residential　energy　consumption　in　China　is　provided.　The　results　show　that　the　effect　of　urbanization　on　residential　energy　consumption　depends　on　the　degree　of　urbanization.　Urbanization　decrease　total　residential　energy　consumption,　but　increase　the　consumption　of　commerical　energy,　while　non-commerical　energy　are　still　the　main　energy　resource　in　the　rural　households.　©　Sila　Science.　All　rights　reserved.