BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) - China's peak electricity load climbed to a record high of 1.518 billion kilowatts on Friday, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

An aerial drone photo shows staff checking cables of the Hami-Chongqing ±800 kV ultra-high voltage direct current transmission project, in Hami, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 13, 2025. (File photo: Xinhua)

The figure was 10 million kilowatts higher than the previous record, the NDRC said, adding that multiple provincial-level regions, including Guangdong, Guangxi, Ningxia and Gansu, have also reported record-high power loads since the start of summer.

As China's top economic planner, the NDRC attributed the nationwide surge in power consumption to multiple factors, including robust industrial demand driven by the rapid growth of high-tech manufacturing, new energy vehicles, and computing equipment.

The service sector, including battery charging and internet data services, also contributed to the surge in power consumption, while increased air-conditioner use played a part as well, the economic planner said.

In recent years, China has made major strides in power infrastructure, helping ensure a stable electricity supply during peak periods and effectively supporting economic and social development as well as meeting people's basic needs, the NDRC said.

China's total installed power generation capacity reached 4.01 billion kilowatts by the end of May 2026, according to data from the National Energy Administration. The figure puts China at the top of the world by this measure.