Ukrainians asked to conserve electricity due to heat wave

Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s state energy operation, has called on Ukrainians to use electricity more sparingly due to rising temperatures.

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During the heat, people tend to use air conditioners more often, leading to a spike in energy consumption. On Tuesday evening, it increased by nine percent compared to the week before, Ukrenergo said in a statement.

"Last week, the evening peak was at 19:00 to 22:00, but since Monday, the load on the power system is felt from 16:00 to 23:00," it added.

The company therefore asked consumers to use powerful electrical appliances in other hours of the day or at night, as well as not switch on several powerful appliances at the same time.

Electricity generation is still sufficient to meet the needs of Ukrainian consumers, Ukrenergo assured, adding the repair campaign is underway at a number thermal and hydroelectric power plants, as well as at several nuclear power units.

"Therefore, the amount of available capacity in the power grid for electricity generation is limited, especially in the evening, when consumption is highest."

In May, Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, CEO Ukrenergo, assured Ukraine is not planning rolling blackouts during summer months, with the likely deficit to be covered by imports from the European Union.