Electricity consumption in Iran crossed 65,000 megawatts on Sunday, an alarming level for early summer, which is over 3,000 MW higher than on the same day (June 26) of last year.
The power use has reached 65 GW at the beginning of summer while the high volume of consumption was registered last year in the middle of the hot season when temperature was higher, IRNA reported.
At present, the temperature averages 38 degrees centigrade and is predicted to hit 41 degrees centigrade by the weekend, which means cooling devices would be used far longer, leading to higher electricity use as well.
With temperatures rising across the country, power consumption is expected to reach 68,000 MW in the coming days, an all-time high, breaking last year’s record of 67 GW.
According to the managing director of the Thermal Power Plants Holding Company, 4,300 megawatts have been added to the production capacity of thermal power plants since last year.
“Currently, 132 power plants across the country, with 525 gas and steam units, are generating electricity at full capacity,” Abdolrasoul Pishahang was also quoted as saying by the Energy Ministry’s news portal Paven.
Referring to the rise in capacity, he said, “Compared to last year, 2,300 MW of new power plant capacity have been built. The conditions of existing power stations have improved by 2,000 MW through repair and maintenance programs.”
The nationwide project to overhaul thermal power plants to improve their output was completed in May and all stations are fully operational. Iran’s total electricity generation capacity has surpassed 86,000 MW.
“Thermal power stations account for 85% of total power generation in Iran and enhancing the efficiency of such infrastructure at regular intervals is crucial,” Pishahang said.
Despite the new additions to the capacity, power authorities have been repeatedly requesting households and industrial sectors to reduce consumption, especially during peak hours.
To help reduce consumption and prevent possible power outages during summer, home subscribers can follow some simple solutions. They can do so by operating evaporative coolers at low speed, setting the temperature of split air-conditioners to 24 degrees and avoiding appliances with high electricity consumption during peak hours [12-17 p.m.].
Government offices in some provinces have been ordered to open earlier in the morning and close at midday to help reduce power use in warm days.
Iran has experienced imbalances in supply and demand for electricity over the past three years mainly because of a surge in energy-intensive cryptocurrency mining and a heavier use of natural gas in manufacturing and household sectors that has caused power plants to operate at lower capacity.
Low rainfall is another factor contributing to the power imbalance, which has impacted hydroelectricity production. As a result, less electricity is generated by hydroelectric power plants.
