As temperatures hit their highest level so far this year government departments have been urged to save energy.

The temperature rose to 36 C in the southern metropolis yesterday, with electricity consumption also closing on record levels as more and more people turned their air conditioning up.

The electric grid has been operating at full capacity in Guangzhou, according to an official from the Guangzhou Economic Commission.

And yesterday, the electric charge reached 7.2 million kilowatts, challenging the city's highest ever charge of 7.28 million kilowatts, said the official, who refused to be named.

Government departments, companies and other organizations have been told to save electricity, while some factories were urged to stop production during peak hours, the official said.

Many cities in the Pearl River Delta have also witnessed a sharp growth in electricity consumption over the past week.

Guangdong Observatory has been issuing warnings about the weather since last Thursday, with local residents and tourists urged to take measures to protect themselves from the heat.

But despite the warnings the number of people admitted to Guangzhou's hospitals with heat-related ailments has increased by more than 30 per cent in the past week.

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