Continuous high temperature and electricity consumption this summer have added burdens to the power grids of central China's Hunan Province, said an official with the provincial power company Tuesday.

He said the power grid's generating capability reached a record 8.36 million kilowatts Tuesday, with 178 million kwh used within one day. Electricity energy saving has become an urgent task, said the official.

Statistics provided by the power company show that Hunan needs a maximum of 10 million kilowatts in the next few days, up 19.85 percent to that of the last same period. The maximum daily electricity consumption will hit 200 million kwh, an increase of 17 percent.

Experts with the electricity departments hold that there is a 1.2 million kw gap between maximum generating capability and summer demand. They are worried about the possible summer-autumn drought, which is expected to induce greater electricity shortage.

The Hunan provincial government has issued the emergency plans requiring enterprises with high energy consumption to arrange work shifts and overhauls, and ensure safe operation.

Government officials and civil servants were asked to take the lead in saving energy.

Source: Xinhua