China's monthly power generation is expected to rise for the first time in June, after eight months of declines, said the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Friday on its website.

The top planning agency based the forecast on statistics collected by State Grid and China Southern Power Grid from June 1 to 23.

Due to increasing economic activity and high temperatures, daily power generation topped 10 billion kilowatt hours for nine days during mid-June and exceeded 10.80 billion kw/hrs on June 23 -- the highest this year, said the NDRC.

Eight provinces and regions set power records from June 1 to June 23: Hebei, Hubei, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan and Hainan provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

(Xinhua News Agency June 27, 2009)