BEIJING, Oct 29 - China's electricity consumption is expected to grow at a rate of 7% to 9.9 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2024, surpassing previous forecasts due to unprecedented heat waves and recent economic stimulus measures. The China Electricity Council (CEC) has revised its earlier prediction of 6.5% growth to 9.82 trillion kWh.
This anticipated growth outpaces last year's increase of 6.7%, with peak demand reaching a record high of 1.45 billion kilowatts during the summer, attributed to the hottest national average temperature recorded in 57 years. The CEC noted that power consumption in the first three quarters of the year exceeded expectations.
The report also highlights that while power demand is expected to slow to 5% growth in the fourth quarter due to a high base effect from the previous year, supply may become constrained this winter during peak periods, especially in eastern and southern regions of China, as households increase heating usage.