"Afraid of Power Outages"…Concerns Over Electricity Crisis Amid Scorching Heatwave

Increased Use of Cooling Devices Amid Consecutive Heatwaves
Next Week's Peak... High Possibility of Emergency Alert Issuance

Afternoon of the 2nd, the status board of power supply and demand situation at Korea Electric Power Corporation Seoul Headquarters. The government expects the peak power demand period this summer to be next week. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lee Gyehwa] "It's so hot that even if I want to turn off the air conditioner, I can't," "What will happen to the food in the refrigerator if there's a power outage?"

Due to early heatwaves, consecutive heat spells, and tropical nights, electricity demand in July reached an all-time high. With next week expected to be the peak period for electricity demand, concerns are rising that sudden power outages or interruptions to cooling devices might occur.

According to the Korea Power Exchange on the 4th, the average monthly maximum power demand last month was 82,333 MW (megawatts), a 1.4% increase compared to the same month last year, marking a record high. Maximum power demand refers to the moment during the day when electricity usage is at its highest, and the average monthly maximum power demand is the average of the daily maximum power demands over a month.

There were also three days when the power supply reserve margin fell below the stable supply level of 10%. Before the 7th of last month, the reserve margin was below 10% on the 5th (9.5%) and 6th (8.7%). This is believed to be due to increased electricity consumption in commercial buildings and factories as daily life resumed, along with increased use of cooling devices such as air conditioners due to consecutive heatwaves.

The government forecasts next week as the period of maximum power demand. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced the summer electricity supply and demand outlook and measures at the end of June, predicting the peak electricity demand period this summer to be the second week of August. This is because large-scale workplaces such as factories return after summer vacations, and the full heatwave begins after the end of the monsoon season. This is why there are concerns that an emergency electricity supply and demand alert may be issued next week.

On the afternoon of July 31, a power outage occurred at the Yeouido Sibeom Apartment in Seoul, and a notice is posted next to the elevator.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ Power outages amid heatwaves... Cooling device interruptions

Recently, power outages have occurred in various places. On July 29th at around 8:30 p.m., about ten apartment buildings in Jangam-dong, Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi-do experienced a blackout, causing great inconvenience to hundreds of households. Cooling devices and refrigeration equipment stopped working in the sweltering heat, and water supply through electric pumps was also cut off.

Also, on the 1st at around 10:10 a.m., electricity supply was cut off to 149 households in Cheonyeon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. According to power authorities, both the Uijeongbu and Seodaemun cases are presumed to be due to overload caused by a sudden surge in electricity usage.

Given the situation, voices expressing concern about large-scale power outages are emerging. Ms. Kim, a housewife in her 40s living in Songpa-gu, said, "Because of COVID-19, I couldn't go out often, so I stocked the refrigerator full of food." She added, "The power outage lasted nearly six hours, and I had no choice but to throw away all the food that spoiled." She continued, "If there is a power outage in the future, I'm worried about the food in the refrigerator, but more than that, how can I endure the extreme heat?"

The government stated that it will minimize citizens' inconvenience by preparing for emergencies such as power outages. Kang Gam-chan, Director of the Electricity Industry Policy Division at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, said on KBS News on the 2nd, "We have secured an additional reserve resource of about 9.2 GW to ensure electricity supply and demand," and added, "In emergency situations, we will respond with emergency measures such as test-running new nuclear or thermal power plants to produce electricity."

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