News   /   Energy

Iran reports record peak usage of electricity at 60 GW

Iran’s Energy Ministry says electricity usage passed a record peak of 60 GW on June 6.

Iran’s Energy Ministry says power consumption in the country rose to a record of 60 gigawatts (GW) at peak hour on Monday June 6.

Iranian Electricity Sector Spokesman Mostafa Rajabi said on Monday that the figure is 5 GW higher than consumption recorded on the same day in 2021.

“That is a big figure ... however, blackouts were avoided and demand was met through better management at our operating power plants,” Rajabi told the state TV although he admitted that several places in the country had experienced brief power cuts over technical issues that occurred in the grid.

The new peak in electricity consumption in Iran comes amid rising temperatures that has caused a surge in cooling demand across the country.

Head of the Iranian Energy Ministry’s grid management department Arash Kordi said on Sunday that demand for electricity is expected to hit an all-time record of 67 GW over the summer months.

Iran has introduced electricity bill credits for a first time to encourage low use by households. Under the scheme, customers who use electricity at a lower scale compared to similar months in previous years will receive credits of 5,000 rials ($0.16) per kilowatt hours (kWh) on their future electricity bills.   

Government offices in some provinces have also been ordered to open earlier in the mornings and close at midday to help reduce power use on warm days.

Iran has experienced imbalances in supply and demand for electricity over the past three years mainly because of a surge in energy-intensive cryptocurrency mining and a heavier use of natural gas at manufacturing and household sectors that has caused power plants to operate at lower capacity.


Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Press TV News Roku