Peak electricity usage in China has arrived some ten days earlier this summer than last year. The daily consumption of electricity hit a record high on Friday, said Sunday's CRI online. 

Peak electricity usage in China has arrived some ten days earlier this summer than last year.

The daily consumption of electricity hit a record high on Friday with 6 billion kilowatt-hours being sucked up around the country.

With temperatures soaring into the high thirties, electricity usage is climbing to help keep the heat a bay. But many different cities and regions have legislated mandatory blackouts to help ease the pressure off overtaxed power grids.

Two-thirds of China's new key power projects have not yet started operating until later this year.

(Xinhua News Agency June 13, 2004)