Iran’s electricity consumption reached a peak of 51,272 megawatts on Sunday, indicating a rise of 764 MW compared with last year's corresponding period.
Electricity demand is forecast to reach as high as 56,000 MW this summer, according to ISNA, citing a report by the Energy Ministry.
According to the report, the national grid experiences the highest power load between 12 noon till 5 pm (morning peak) and 7 pm till 11 pm (evening peak) during the first six months of the year.
Reportedly, Iran's electricity exchange stood at 1,787 MW on Sunday, of which 1,230 MW accounted for exports.
The country imported 577 MW on the same day, which kept the electricity trade balance positive.
According to Arash Kordi, managing director of Iran Power Generation, Distribution and Transmission Company (Tavanir), the reimposition of US sanctions against Tehran in November will have no effect on the country's power trade with neighbors.
On May 8, US President Donald Trump said the United States was pulling out of a 2015 international nuclear deal with Iran and would impose new sanctions seeking to reduce the country’s oil shipments.
Under swap deals, Iran exports electricity to Armenia and Azerbaijan in winter and imports it when domestic demand soars in summer.
"Electricity consumption is expected to reach a peak of 58,000 megawatts in the current fiscal (started March 21), which will be 2,600 MW more than that of last year," Mahmoud Reza Haqifam, a deputy at Iran Power Generation, Distribution and Transmission Company, said.
The official noted that to increase the country’s power grid sustainability, Iran has embarked on joint ventures, especially with Caspian Sea littoral states, to synchronize its electricity network with those of regional countries.
"The government has invested over $2 billion on expansion of power stations for producing only 300 kilowatt-hours of electricity in summer, of which 2000 MW have been added to the grid," he said.
