Ministry: Heatwave drives Russia’s power consumption up

MOSCOW, Jun 22 (PRIME) -- Russia’s power consumption has been steadily rising during the heatwave to increase by 5.8% on the year since July 1 through Tuesday, Deputy Energy Minister Yevgeny Grabchak told PRIME.

Forecasts show that the air temperature in European Russia may rise to 36 degrees Celsius on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The air temperature in Moscow may hit a record for the past 120 years.

“Currently, the power systems of the European part of Russia and of Russia in general register positive dynamics of power consumption as compared with the indicators both of 2020 and  2019 … The weather has an impact on consumption among other factors, because power consumption usually grows when it’s hot,” Grabchak said.

Since June 1, power consumption has grown by 5.8% on the year, and by 4.8% on the year since January 1, or by 5.5% excluding the leap year factor, and by 3.7% under equal air temperature conditions. This week capacity consumption should grow by 4 gigawatts, but the country’s power system is ready for that, he said.

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