Beijing reports record winter power load

BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Beijing's maximum power load reached more than 17.8 million kilowatts Monday evening, a winter record, according to the State Grid Beijing Power Company.

"The robust growth in the power load this winter is attributed to the increasing demand for electricity after Beijing converted from coal-fired heating to electricity," said Zhou Yunbin, an official with the company. "The power load for heating is about 5.85 million kilowatts during peak periods this year, up 10.7 percent year on year."

A total of 1.1 million households have switched from coal-fired heating to electricity in Beijing.

The company estimates the city's maximum power load this heating season will increase 10.6 percent year on year, and the power load for heating is estimated to account for about 40 percent of the total.

To reduce coal-fired pollution, China has taken measures this year to advance clean central winter heating in the country's northern regions and replace coal with electricity and natural gas. Enditem