Shanghai began rationing electricity for industrial use on
Wednesday as part of a plan to help narrow the gap between demand
and supply during the hot summer months.
Shanghai government officials said all industrial operations
could face possible shutdowns during the hottest weeks, from
mid-July through the end of August, and that thousands were likely
to suspend production or shift output from morning to night.
The city faces a potential peak demand of 19 million kilowatts,
about 2 million kilowatts more than the power grid is equipped to
handle, the Shanghai Daily reported.
Many cities across China face similar problems as demand for
power from booming industries competes with rising electricity
consumption by millions of air conditioners. Coal shortages used to
fuel power plants have added to the problem.
Shanghai recently added five new generators, boosting its power
generating capacity by 1 million kilowatts to 11.4 million
kilowatts. The city will also?buy about 6 million kilowatts of
power from other provinces.
Last year, Shanghai reduced outdoor lighting and ordered air
conditioners in public venues such as shopping malls to be adjusted
to a balmy 26 degrees Celsius.
(Shenzhen Daily June 15, 2005)