KUWAIT CITY, Aug 14: The electric gauge entered the orange zone during peak hours, despite the maximum temperatures falling to 45 degrees Celsius and the demand staying below the 16,000 MW limit, reports Al-Anba daily. Sources well-versed in the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) revealed that the gauge’s shift to the orange zone stemmed from a reduction in reserve capacity, which dwindled to 1,000 megawatts Sunday. This indicates that the current safe output of power stations is capped at 17,000 megawatts, even though the total installed capacity across the nation’s power plants surpasses 18,500 megawatts.

These sources pointed out that the decrease in reserves is attributed to several production units being offline in various power stations, either due to maintenance or a temporary removal to ease their load after a period of stable electricity consumption nationwide. The sources emphasized that there’s currently no immediate concern about production falling short of meeting consumption demands. The operational units are capable of supplying the required energy to the country, with last month’s peak reaching 16,940 megawatts, surpassing the ministry’s projected figure of 16,800 megawatts. Reiterating their call for prudent energy use, the sources advocated for measures that would alleviate strain on production units and the power grid, safeguarding both public funds and citizens’ budgets.

On Sunday, the demand reached 15,900 MW, marking the commencement of a countdown to a potential rise in demand if temperatures continue to drop. The sources emphasized the pivotal role played by climatic conditions and weather elements in the upswing of demand and pressure on the power network. In an unrelated context, the sources underscored the ministry’s readiness to accommodate the upcoming school season. They highlighted that all Kuwaiti schools have access to electricity and water services