Weekday Afternoons 5-6 PM This Week
Expected Highest Demand This Summer
Ministry of Industry Mobilizes to Manage Power Peak
Following the rainy season, with the heatwave intensifying, power demand is expected to reach its peak this week due to increased electricity usage as industries return from vacation. Power authorities have decided to fully focus on ensuring stable power supply by re-examining supply and demand response measures.
On the 5th, a Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy official stated, "The highest power demand this summer may occur around 5 to 6 p.m. on weekdays this week," adding, "Last year, on August 7, the highest summer power demand on record was 93.6GW, and this week’s demand could rise to a similar level."
The reason power authorities expect the highest power demand this summer to occur this week is mainly due to two factors: the accumulated heatwave and the recovery of industrial operating rates. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, scattered showers will fall across the country today, with daytime highs reaching up to 35 degrees Celsius and tropical nights continuing, resulting in hot and humid weather.
Heatwave warnings have been issued consecutively in many regions nationwide. Seoul has been under a heatwave warning for six days, and Daegu for fifteen days, with temperatures expected to reach 34 degrees in Seoul and 35 degrees in Daegu, making it very hot. In particular, the Meteorological Administration’s medium-term forecast predicts that from the 7th to the 14th, morning temperatures will range from 23 to 27 degrees Celsius and daytime temperatures from 30 to 36 degrees Celsius, exceeding average temperatures and maintaining similar levels to now. The nationwide highest perceived temperature is expected to reach 35 degrees Celsius, with tropical nights continuing every night. An increase in power demand is inevitable for the time being.
Power authorities are concerned that power demand will noticeably increase starting this week as industrial operating rates recover following last week’s concentrated industrial vacations, combined with the increased demand due to the heatwave.
However, no strain on power supply is expected today. According to the Korea Power Exchange, the maximum load today is forecasted to reach 93.7GW between 4 and 5 p.m., the highest ever recorded for summer. Power authorities typically switch to an emergency response posture to prevent large-scale blackouts when the reserve margin falls below 10%. However, today’s supply reserve capacity is expected to be 100.3GW, with a reserve margin of 10.7%. The operating reserve is also at 96.3GW, showing a reserve margin of 10.3%, indicating a "normal" status.
An official from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy explained, "Due to the accumulated heatwave, power demand may increase further toward the end of this week," adding, "We are re-examining supply and demand response measures for the peak power week and monitoring equipment inspection status to prepare for the possibility of demand rising more than expected."
The government has secured a maximum supply capacity of 104.2GW this summer. Along with this, power authorities have prepared various supply management measures in advance to respond to unexpected crises such as generator failures and early heatwaves. First, if reserve capacity becomes insufficient, newly constructed generators such as the Ulsan GPS combined cycle and Tongyeong natural gas plants will be put into trial operation. If reserve capacity is still insufficient, emergency reserve resources of up to 7.2GW will be activated, including demand response (DR), increased output from coal-fired power plants, and voltage reduction.
Demand management for rational energy use will also be implemented simultaneously. From the third week of July to the third week of August, when intensive management is required, public institutions will sequentially suspend air conditioners for 30 minutes during peak hours (4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.). If reserve capacity is expected to fall below 5.5GW, additional measures such as raising indoor temperature standards will be implemented.
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