KUWAIT CITY, Aug 17: The electricity load index rose again on Saturday, approaching the red zone with 17,035 megawatts due to rising temperatures that reached 50 degrees Celsius. This led to an increase in electricity consumption rate, especially during the peak period – from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Sources from the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy affirmed that such a situation necessitates the application of rationalization measures, the most important of which is to maintain the temperature of air conditioners at 23 degrees instead of 18 degrees, because the air conditioners consume 70 percent of power production.

Sources indicated that the increase in power load greatly affects the components of the electrical network, and may expose cables and secondary and main transformers to malfunctions or combustion. So far, the highest electricity load recorded this summer was 17,360 megawatts on July 13. In a related development, the ministry on Saturday announced its plan to cut off electricity in some parts of non-residential areas like Abdally, Wafra, Rai, Sulaibiya, Amghara and Subhan to maintain the stability of the electricity system in the country.

By Mohammad Ghanem
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff