Demand for electricity in many Chinese provinces has set new records amid searing heat and robust factory activity following the end of COVID-19 related lockdowns. 

The maximum power demand load since June reached 844 million kilowatts and in northwest China and north China demand was up 8.81 percent and 3.21 percent from the same period last year, according to the State Grid Corporation of China.

State Grid supplies power to over 1.1 billion people across 26 Chinese provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.

State Grid’s northwest electricity network saw record power demand load on June 17 of up to 112 million kilowatts, and 249 million kilowatts on June 19 in northern China, a new seasonal record.

The maximum power demand load in Central China’s Henan Province, set a new record of 65.34 million kilowatts on June 19. In East China’s Jiangsu Province, maximum power demand load surpassed 100 million kilowatts on June 17 for the first time this summer, 19 days earlier than in 2021.

The demand for power has risen as temperatures climb, with homes and businesses cranking up air conditioning as well as a return of factory operations after COVID-19 flare-ups were brought under control in regions including Shanghai.

Heatwaves have hit parts of the country from the start June. China's national observatory on Tuesday renewed an alert for high temperatures for 12 provinces and regions across China. The temperatures across some regions in North China’s Hebei Province and East China’s Shandong Province are expected to reach over 40 degrees Celsius, the center said.

The State Grid said the company will step up efforts to cope with the heavy demand, promote work safety, power supply services, and emergency response, to prepare for peak electricity usage in the summer.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) stressed on Thursday that it will strengthen coordination with relevant coal, oil and gas suppliers to ensure regular market supply across the country.

The NDRC said based on the current situation, the installed capacity of power generation is sufficient and coal storage across the nation’s power plants is at a historical high, laying a solid foundation to cope with the peak summer electricity usage.

China has been beefing up efforts to ensure the stable supply of coal and energy. To boost coal output, reserves to ensure power supply, the NDRC adjusted medium and long-term coal contracts last December, which has covered all coal production firms with an approved production capacity of 300,000 tons per year and above, and the coal purchase demand for key power generation and heating companies.