August 7 Last Year, Record Peak Power Demand '93.6GW'
Reassessing Supply and Demand Measures at Shinyangjae Substation, a Key Power Facility in the Seoul Metropolitan Area
The government expects that the highest power demand this summer is likely to occur on a weekday next week and has launched an emergency on-site inspection.
On the 1st, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held a meeting chaired by Second Vice Minister Choi Nam-ho at the Shinyangjae Substation, a key power facility in the Seoul metropolitan area, with related power agencies to re-examine the supply and demand response measures for the peak power week and to check the status of equipment inspections.
An official from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said, "After this week, when industrial sector vacations are concentrated, if the operating rate recovers from next week, power demand could increase noticeably. Also, the accumulated heatwaves and humid weather since July are expected to continue until next week, causing cooling demand to reach its highest level."
The power authorities forecast that the highest demand this summer could occur around 5 to 6 p.m. on a weekday next week. Last year, on August 7, the highest summer power demand on record was 93.6 GW. The government expects that power demand could rise to a similar level next week.
Vice Minister Choi said, "We are also preparing for the possibility that demand may rise more than expected due to heatwaves and typhoons. It is more important than anything else to thoroughly manage equipment and to prepare meticulously to prevent any safety accidents."
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