South Korea's electricity consumption hit an all-time high on Monday, amid a drawn-out heat wave, placing authorities on alert.

The maximum electricity load soared to 83.7 million kilowatts as of 3 p.m., beating the previous record of 82.9 million kilowatts on Jan. 21 this year, according to the state-run Korea Power Exchange. 


The electric power reserve ratio plunged to 7 percent, or 5.91 million kilowatts.

If the figure falls below 5 million kilowatts, a state alarm is automatically issued.

"Despite sweltering heat, electricity demand did not reach the peak last week as many people were on summer vacation," an official at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said. "But electricity demand will likely increase a lot this week and next week with vacationers returning (to their daily life). Furthermore, there is no rain forecast."

The ministry has entered an emergency response posture, monitoring the electric power supply situation on a real-time basis.

Typically, more electricity is used in South Korea in winter than in summer.

This summer, though, an unrelenting heat wave not only during the day but also at night has caused people to run fans and air conditioners at full blast nationwide.

The government plans to step up efforts to curb the excess use of electricity in accordance with the nation's law intended to save energy.

Shops, restaurants and other commercial facilities here are prohibited from doing business with doors open while their indoor air conditioners are running.

It will also push for the early resumption of operations of the Wolsong-1 nuclear power plant, which is currently under maintenance, said the ministry official. (Yonhap)