With highs of between 34oC and 36oC in most of the western part of the nation, Taiwan Power Co (Taipower, 台電) estimated that yesterday’s peak power consumption might have reached 34.6 megawatts, with the operating reserve dropping to 5.58 percent.
When the level of operating reserve drops below 6 percent, it indicates that the power reserve has already become alarmingly low.
Taipower uses five colors to indicate the status of the operating power reserve and the stability of the power supply — green for an operating reserve rate higher than 10 percent, yellow for a rate between 6 percent and 10 percent, orange for a rate of less than 6 percent, red for reserve capacity less than 900,000 kilowatts (kW) and black for reserve capacity less than 500,000kW.
In the event that the power company issues a black alert, consumers will have to prepare for power rationing.
However, Taipower said there is no threat of power rationing, since the alert level remains in the medium range of orange.
The company said its operating reserve would be higher than 6 percent over the next seven days, as several typhoons are approaching Taiwan, which will lower temperatures and reduce power consumption.
Rainfall brought in by the typhoons might also contribute to power generation at the firm’s hydroelectric plants, it added.
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