KEPCO "Cooling demand this summer to exceed 2018 levels... Full effort for stable power supply"

KEPCO employees are conducting an emergency power supply training exercise on the 21st at the headquarters' Disaster Control Room.

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] As power demand is expected to surge due to this summer's heatwave, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) has decided to guide power saving measures targeting high-usage areas during peak demand and to promote additional safety inspections and management of key facilities.

On the 22nd, KEPCO announced that it will establish an emergency power supply and demand response system to ensure the public can use electricity with confidence amid the expected surge in power demand caused by the summer heatwave and increased industrial production, and will make every effort to ensure stable power supply during the summer.

KEPCO expects the power supply capacity during this year's peak demand period (second week of August) to be 99,174 MW, an increase of 10,230 MW compared to last year. However, due to increased cooling demand from the heatwave and rising industrial production from economic recovery, the reserve margin is expected to decrease.

Cooling demand is anticipated to increase by a minimum of 338 MW and a maximum of 3,838 MW compared to 2018, which experienced the worst heatwave on record. Additionally, power consumption is expected to rise due to strong export performance in power-intensive industries such as semiconductors, automobiles, and machinery equipment, driven by economic recovery.

In response, since the 5th of this month, KEPCO has been operating a power supply and demand countermeasure situation room at its headquarters and 15 regional offices, establishing an emergency response system to prepare for urgent situations that may occur at 244 business sites nationwide. KEPCO is also maintaining close cooperative relationships with power generation companies, the Korea Power Exchange, and large-capacity customers to prepare for emergencies.

Furthermore, KEPCO has secured 885 MW of demand resources by signing emergency power saving demand adjustment agreements with 159 customers in preparation for emergency power supply and demand situations. For 11,967 large-capacity customers with contracted power of 3,000 kW or more, who account for about 50% of power sales, KEPCO is sharing power supply and demand status and promoting power saving guidance during peak times.

In addition, to strengthen the response capability to emergency power supply and demand situations during the summer, KEPCO conducted a 'Power Supply and Demand Emergency Drill' yesterday at the disaster comprehensive situation room at its headquarters in Naju, Jeollanam-do, where assigned tasks are performed according to emergency stages when situations arise. At this event, KEPCO President Jeong Seung-il urged employees to "carry out additional safety inspections and management of key facilities to prevent any disruption in power supply, thoroughly train on emergency stage-specific measures, and do their best to ensure stable power supply."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.