(Yicai Global) Dec. 18 -- Electricity consumption in Beijing broke winter records two times this week as plunging temperatures grip the capital, forcing residents to turn up the heating.

The electricity load on Beijing’s grid peaked at 21.6 million kilowatts at 8:23 p.m. on Dec. 15, the most ever during the winter months, and erasing the record set the day before of 21.3 million kWs, the Beijing Daily reported today.

The capital is preparing for a maximum load of 23 million kWs this winter, an increase of 8.3 percent from the year before, according to the city’s electricity regulation center. Heating devices account for almost half of this.

Demand is expected to remain high through to January as another cold front is due to roll in at the end of the month, according to the meteorological bureau.

Part of the additional draw on power is due to the city’s outlying rural districts being encouraged to use electricity rather than coal in an effort to reduce air pollution. As of November, 1.3 million households had had their main form of energy consumption changed.

The harsh winter is straining China’s electricity supply elsewhere too. Central Hunan and southeastern Zhejiang and Jiangxi provinces have already started to ration power. Chongqing in southwestern Sichuan province has seen its electricity loads soar to an all-time high.

The National Energy Administration said yesterday that it will take four measures to guarantee the country’s electricity supply. It will urge power generating firms to ensure stable supply, it will try to avoid power shortages caused by the break down of key kit, it will prepare for low temperatures, rainfall, snow, freezing weather and other natural disasters and it will guide power plants to properly maintain and repair their equipment so that they can keep working amid emergencies.

Editor: Kim Taylor