In a press release issued on Saturday, NAWEC said nationwide electricity demand has risen to 140 MW during peak periods. The company attributed the spike mainly to the prevailing high temperatures.
The demand surge has coincided with constraints on electricity imports, despite NAWEC currently operating four local generating units. The situation was further worsened by a technical incident affecting one of the major power-generating units on the import side, the utility company stated.
To maintain what it called “the secure and stable operation of the available power system,” NAWEC said it will institute load shedding during peak hours, mainly between 8:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m., affecting several parts of the country.
NAWEC acknowledged the inconvenience to customers and appealed for understanding.
“The company appreciates the patience and cooperation of its valued customers during this challenging period,” the statement read.
NAWEC added that it will continue to provide regular updates through its official communication channels as efforts continue to manage the situation and ensure stability of supply.
The load shedding announcement comes at a time when many households and businesses are relying heavily on electricity for cooling due to the ongoing heatwave.
The release was issued by NAWEC’s Public Relations and Communications Unit.
