UPDATE 2-China Oct power generation growth fastest in 19 months

* Oct power output up 17.1 pct on yr, fastest in 19 months

* Low base plays a role

* here (Adds graphic link, background)

BEIJING, Nov 11 (Reuters) - China's power generation in October increased 17.1 percent from a year earlier, the fifth rise in a row and the fastest growth in 19 months as the world's third largest economy continues to pick up speed.

China's industrial output growth also hit a 19-month high in October.

But the rate of year-on-year improvement was partly exaggerated because of the weak base effect caused by a sharp economic slowdown in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Last month's electricity output was 312.104 billion kilowatt hours, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed.

For a historical graphic of China's power generation, click: here

Output from thermal power plants, consisting mostly of coal-fired plants, surged 20.8 percent last month from the year-ago level, while production at hydropower plants fell 4 percent. Nuclear power output rose 4.3 percent.