Shaanxi strengthens power supply amid summer heat

Shaanxi province recorded a peak electricity load of 46.72 million kilowatts this summer, as power demand surged amid persistent high temperatures, prompting power companies to ramp up generation, upgrade grid infrastructure, and strengthen equipment maintenance.

Staff members of State Grid Shaanxi Electric Power Co engage in inspection work. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Since July, electricity loads in seven cities and districts, including Xi'an, Baoji, and Weinan, have hit new highs 17 times. State Grid Shaanxi Electric Power Co has coordinated efforts across the power supply chain to ensure reliable electricity during the summer peak period.

Thermal power plants have operated at full capacity, supported by steady coal supplies and coordinated solar power and energy storage. By July 19, Datang Shaanxi Power Generation Co had generated 4.37 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, up 12.39 percent year-on-year, supplying about one-third of the province's electricity and nearly 80 percent of the power consumed in the Guanzhong region.

Grid infrastructure upgrades have also strengthened transmission capacity. A 750-kilovolt transmission project linking northern Shaanxi and Guanzhong began operation on June 30, increasing the province's north-to-south transmission capacity from 6.3 million kW to more than 9 million kW.

Meanwhile, power workers have conducted intensive inspections of substations, transmission lines, and underground cable corridors to identify potential faults and maintain reliable service during extreme heat.