Peak power load is forecast to surpass 73,000 MW in the summer, a massive figure unseen in the history of power sector, the head of Iran Grid Management Company said.
“Iran Power Generation, Distribution and Transmission Company’s [Tavanir] maximum output capacity is currently 62 gigawatts and as soon as demand exceeds the level, load shedding and power outages will start,” Mostafa Rajabi-Mashhadi was also quoted as saying by ILNA.
Electricity consumption nationwide jumped to 55,000 MW on Monday, up 20% or 9,000 MW compared with the same period in 2022, he added.
Industries accounted for 8 gigawatts of total consumption on Monday.
Last year's highest peak demand reached 67 GW in July, which is projected to rise by 10% this summer.
According to the official, the parliament’s decision to abolish the law on implementing Daylight Saving Time in the spring and fall has raised electricity demand during peak hours by at least 2,000 MW.
“Offices are obliged to start at 6 a.m. as of May 22 so that Tavanir can meet power demand during peak hours that start at 2 p.m.,” he said.
State organizations’ power consumption is constantly monitored remotely and their electricity supply will be cut off if they do not comply with Tavanir’s regulations.
Working Hours
Changing working hours is expected to help with load management in provincial capitals, big cities and towns.
The initiative is projected to reduce power consumption by as much as 1,000 MW. There is a direct link between the rise in temperature and peak demand.
“The Energy Ministry has not yet announced a daily timetable for shutdowns in the metropolis, but if consumers do not readjust their [high] consumption, the shortages will have to be compensated by load shedding, affecting industries and households.”
Power customers are likely to experience load shedding when a utility lowers or stops electricity distribution across the coverage area for a short period; this type of load shedding is commonly referred to as a rolling blackout.
Tavanir has routinely warned homes and offices to rethink their unacceptably high consumption. Failing to conserve electricity means blackouts in many regions.
“Over 15,000 megawatts have been added to installed power capacity since 2019. This apparently is not enough to make up for the ever-increasing consumption in summer.”
Working hours may change like previous years during the hot season to avoid potential power outages.
Changing work hours helped with load management in the provincial capitals, big cities and towns last year, reducing consumption by as much as 500 megawatts last summer.
The ministry’s projections show output from hydropower plants will not exceed 3,000 megawatts this summer due to low precipitation. Production from these plants was 8,000 MW last summer.
