Electricity Demand Expected to Surpass 90GW for the First Time This Year... Supply Crisis at the End of July and Early August

Nationwide Early Heatwave
Today's Peak Power Demand Expected
23 Days Earlier Than Last Year

On the 3rd, when heatwave warnings were issued in most regions nationwide, heat haze caused by geothermal heat was rising on Yeouidaero in Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Due to an early nationwide heatwave, the maximum power demand on the 4th is expected to exceed 90GW for the first time this year. At the end of this month to early August, when power demand peaks, there is even a possibility of issuing a power supply and demand alert for the first time in nine years, raising concerns about supply stability.

According to the Korea Power Exchange, the expected maximum power load on this day is 90.8GW, signaling the first breakthrough of the 90GW range this year. If the maximum power demand reaches the 90GW range, it will be 23 days earlier than last year (July 27, 91.4GW). Maximum power refers to the moment of highest electricity usage during the day.

The power supply reserve is expected to be 6.9GW, and the reserve margin rate 7.7%, the lowest figures this year. This is 10 days after the supply reserve dropped below 10GW for the first time this year on the 23rd of last month, with a reserve of 7.9GW (reserve rate 9.5%). Since the stable power supply margin is considered to be an average reserve of 10GW and a reserve rate of 10%, the possibility of a power crisis cannot be ruled out if abnormal temperatures persist.

Earlier, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 30th of last month that the forecasted reserve margin for this year is as low as 5.2GW, which falls within the range for issuing a power supply and demand emergency alert. In fact, the average maximum power demand last month increased by 4.3% compared to the same month last year, reaching 71.8GW, the highest ever recorded for June since related statistics began in 2005. This is the first time the 70GW range has been exceeded in June.

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