The scorching heat in Ho Chi Minh City has hiked power consumption considerably, causing overloading of transformers and power blackouts in several residential areas of Ho Chi Minh City in the last two weeks.
Phan Cong Vinh, deputy director of Binh Chanh Electricity Company, said that sweltering weather has resulted in more people increasing use of electric fans, air conditioners and pumps during peak hours, causing circuit breakdowns.
Power consumption has risen by more than 14 percent in Binh Chanh District and 15 percent in Districts 4 and 7 over the last ten days. The numbers of phone enquiries on power cuts have gone up 80 percent.
Do Duy Quang, director of Tan Phu Electricity Company, said that the power consumption also rose by 17 percent by late March with double the number of phone calls concerning power outage.
The power consumption demand is expected to continue to increase due to long lasting heat.
In related news, Vietnam Electricity (EVN) said that the central and central highland regions have been facing severe drought conditions for the last three months, lowering water levels in the hydropower reservoirs.
Water levels in reservoirs at the Ham Thuan and Hoa Binh Hydropower Plants are currently 9.4m and 6.3m lower than during the same period last year.
EVN has mobilized all power sources including hydropower, thermal power and wind power and purchased electricity from China to ensure steady supply.
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City power consumption rises to cope with scorching weather
