This summer’s electricity demand is expected to be ‘highest ever’… Government to make all-out efforts to ensure stable electricity supply
With the heat wave continuing day after day, it is predicted that this summer’s electricity demand will reach an all-time high of 97.8 gigawatts (GW).
The government announced that even if the maximum electricity demand reaches the upper limit, the reserve power is 8.8 GW, which is a level that the power authorities can manage, and that 8.7 GW of emergency resources have been prepared separately.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced the summer electricity supply and demand outlook and countermeasures at a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on the 10th.
Due to the sudden late summer heat, the use of air conditioners has been rapidly increasing, and electricity consumption has been skyrocketing to midsummer levels since the beginning of this month.
As of 6 p.m. on the 8th, electricity demand was 95.7 GW, the second highest ever, and the average temperature in the first half of this month was the highest ever.
The power authority predicts that the maximum electricity demand this summer could reach up to 100 GW.
The Korea Meteorological Administration also predicts that temperatures will be higher than average in both August and September, so there is a possibility that the late summer heat will continue until September like last year.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that it has secured sufficient electricity supply capacity by optimizing generator maintenance schedules, etc., and that even if the maximum electricity demand rises to the upper limit of 97.8 GW, the reserve power is 8.8 GW, which is a level that the power authority can manage.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has also prepared 8.7 GW of emergency resources separately in preparation for possible equipment failures due to heavy rain or typhoons, or for increased demand due to the continued heatwave.
In order to prevent equipment failures in advance, old equipment was replaced in advance, and vulnerable equipment was thoroughly inspected and repaired in advance.
For vulnerable groups who may have difficulty using electricity even during heat waves, up to 701,300 won in annual energy vouchers has been provided in a lump sum since last month, and at the same time, the maximum monthly electricity bill reduction limit has been expanded to 20,000 won.
In addition, the electricity bill progressive rate system was relaxed from 0~200 kWh to 0~300 kWh in the first section and from 200~400 kWh to 300~450 kWh in the second section in July and August, reducing the overall electricity bill burden due to air conditioning use.
Meanwhile, in order to prevent cases where energy vouchers are issued but not used, we are promoting the system to individual households through KakaoTalk, text messages, etc., and are promoting measures to encourage actual use, such as having postal workers visit households in person to guide them on how to use it. Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Deok-geun said, “We are still maintaining a stable power supply despite the higher-than-expected temperatures thanks to sufficient reserve power,” and “We will thoroughly manage to ensure that there is no inconvenience in using electricity by promptly activating response measures prepared in advance in case of any crisis, such as heat waves, typhoons, or large-scale facility failures.”
[Editor Lee]
