Power Industry--Power supply

The nationwide power shortage situation became even severe in2003. Facing this stern power supply/ demand situation, the StateCouncil Administrative Office issued the Notice of StrengtheningEarnestly Power Supply Management on April 21, which called for alldepartments under the State Council, local governments and powerenterprises to strengthen leaderships, make concerted efforts, takeeffective measures to alleviate power supply shortage, and ensurepassing safely through the peak demand period. The governmentrelated departments had pushed forward actively the demand sidemanagement (DSM), strongly advocated electricity saving ideology,and insisted on the way of new type industrialization with lowenergy consumption and high output.

The major data of power supply in 2003 is shown in Table 2.Comparing with 2002, the electricity generation increased by 15.17%and the utilization hours were 5245 h, growing 385 h. Theutilization hours for thermal power units were 5767 h, 495 h higherthan that of 2002. While those of hydro power units were 3239 h, 50h lower than that of 2002 since there were few rains in the mostareas in 2003.