China Electricity Consumption Hits Record August Peak

China's electricity consumption reached 1.03 trillion kilowatt-hours in August, marking a 1.7 percent increase year-on-year. According to the National Energy Administration, the electricity load hit a record high of 1.56 billion kilowatts, surpassing the previous year's peak by 49.69 million kW.

Growth occurred across all sectors, though the tertiary industry led with a 5.1 percent increase. High-tech and equipment manufacturing consumption rose 7.2 percent to 122.2 billion kWh. The most rapid growth appeared in charging and battery swapping services, which grew 51.2 percent, and internet data services, which rose 37.9 percent.

For the first eight months of 2026, total power use reached 7.17 trillion kWh, an increase of 4.3 percent year-on-year. The National Development and Reform Commission stated that infrastructure improvements have ensured a stable supply during these peak periods.