China's power production and consumption rose by more than 15 percent in the first half, the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) announced Friday.

Power output reached 1.47 trillion kwh in the first six months, up 15.9 percent, and consumption rose to 1.5 trillion kwh, up by 15.84 percent, four percent and three percent respectively than the same period last year.

"Current power supply and demand is stable and power shortages are easing," said SERC chairman You Quan.

China's installed capacity and power production have both risen tenfold over the past three decades.

However, an earlier report from the National Development and Reform Commission pointed out that power shortages continued to affect provinces such as Guangdong, Zhejiang, Hainan, Shanxi and Liaoning.

Earlier Xinhua reported the southern Guangdong Province was faced with major electricity shortages for the fifth straight summer.

"In April, we were short four million kwh of power, far above the 2.55 million to 3.69 million kwh predicted," said an official in charge of electricity resources management.

(Xinhua News Agency July 21, 2007)