Residents of the municipalities of Shanghai and Chongqing
have spent the last few days in scorching heat, with serious
consequences for local power supplies.
Shanghai's meteorological observatory has issued four "black
warning" since Friday, something it does when the temperature is
expected to hit 38 degrees Celsius within 24 hours.
After ten consecutive days of sweltering heat, the observatory
has predicted that temperatures will begin to fall in the coming
days.
The increased use of air conditioners has put a huge strain on
Shanghai's electricity supplies, as well as resulting in high
callouts for electrical problems.
Power department officials said that at 12:50 AM yesterday, a
record electricity consumption peak of 16.4 million kilowatt was
reached, almost the power grid's highest bearing capacity.
All generating units are in full operation, and grids outside
the city have been supplying 4.83 million kilowatts, the maximum
that they can.
Nearly 20,000 staff were sent out to deal with electrical
problems, 60 percent of them in residential buildings.
The power department has advised residents to pay attention to
electrical safety, and emergency plans are reportedly being put
into place by the local government.
Chongqing, a city also known as Huolu or "hot oven," has had a
weeklong heat wave, with the highest temperature reaching 39.8
degrees Celsius.
(Xinhua News Agency July 5, 2005)