Power demand surges as heat rises

SHANGHAI - Electricity shortages have been bringing more pain to East China as the mercury has climbed during the past week and power providers announced rationing in Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangsu.

In Zhejiang province, demand for power was predicted to reach 50 million kilowatts - an 18.9 percent year-on-year increase - while limitations in supply meant 5 million kilowatts of that wanted power would be unsatisfied, according to statistics from the Zhejiang Electricity Power Corporation of the State Grid.

Power consumed from the Shanghai Electricity Power Corporation of the State Grid peaked at 24.13 million kilowatts on July 4. In light of the sizzling demand, the corporation began rationing power this summer among some industrial users on that day.