Taiwan's electricity supplies hit tightest point of the year

Taipei, Sept. 15 (CNA) Taiwan electricity reserves fell to their lowest level of the year on Monday afternoon, said state-run Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower), which urged the public to conserve energy.

The percentage of operating reserves fell to only 3.44 percent of the peak load at 1:44 p.m. on Monday, the lowest level so far this year, when the country's power usage hit 34.20 million kilowatts, Taipower said.

Any operating reserve margin below 6 percent represents a greater chance of power rationing being introduced, according to the company.

The tight power supplies have been mainly caused by the suspension of the company's natural gas-burning thermal power plant in Kaohsiung because of the partial closure of gas pipelines in the southern city following lethal underground gas explosions there on July 31, Taipower said.

The suspension, along with shutdowns of generators at other power plants for routine maintenance, reduced the total power supply by 3.13 million kilowatts, according to the company.

With power usage remaining high due to the high temperatures Taiwan has experienced this month, Taipower urged the public to do everything it could to limit power consumption.

According to the Central Weather Bureau, the western part of Taiwan saw high temperatures Monday, with Kaohsiung recording a high of 37.6 degrees Celsius, the highest ever since records were first kept in 1932.

Forecasters expect Tuesday's daytime highs to be lower from those recorded on Monday, but are still likely to reach 32-36 degrees Celsius.

(By Huang Chiao-wen and Kay Liu)enditem/ls