Taiwan Demand exceeds supply

Taiwan Power Company (Taipower 台電) said that the current estimated power supply shortage is roughly equal to that generated by three large nuclear generators, and it appealed to the public to reduce power consumption.
After power consumption reached record highs in July, it remained at peak levels through last month due to continuing hot weather, Taipower said earlier this month, the power consumption was 1.5 million kilowatts higher than in the same period last year, it said.
Taipower said that the power supply in southern Taiwan had dropped by 1.1 million kilowatts as some power plants had been shut down due to the relocation of underground pipelines in Greater Kaohsiung after the gas pipeline explosions on July 31 and Aug. 1.
In addition, two power generators at the Linkou coal-fired power plant in New Taipei City were decommissioned on Sept. 1, reducing power supply by 500,000 kilowatts, the company said.
Another generator at a power plant run by Taiwan Cogeneration Corporation (台汽電) broke down recently, reducing power supply by a further 240,000 kilowatts, Taipower said.
To alleviate the pressure on the power supply, Taipower said, it has postponed maintenance of generator No. 2 at its Greater Taichung coal-fired power station.