High temperatures create record power usage
High temperatures create record power usage
HIGH TEMPERATURES in Panama on Wednesday Thursday July 9-10 pushed consumption of electricity to an all-time high, with warnings of problems ahead because of the lack of a third transmission line to carry power from the generating plants to the consumption centers
Reports from the) of the Electricity Transmission Company, SA (Etesa) show that The record demand or amount of energy required nationwide on Wednesday was 487,000 megawatts at 1:55 pm. The previous record was reported on March 18 with 465,000 megawatts, meaning a 22 megawatts increase.
Consumption nationwide for 24 hours on Wednesday, July 9 also shot up. from 27,504 megawatt hours on April 8 to 28 ,000 thousand megawatt hours on 11 July11.
Hydrometeorological reports by Etesa, which in recent days have marked a a perceived temperature (with humidity) of 37 degrees Celsius and a maximum temperature varying between 32 and 34 degrees Celsius during the day.
The use of air-conditioners accounts for 60% of energy consumption in the country.
This growth in demand puts more pressure on the system that currently has about 800,000 megawatts of firm power.
Fortunately both indicators are in the rainy season when most of hydropower is in operation. However, it is the lack of the third transmission line to carry power from the generating plants to the consumption centers that creates problems reports La Prensa