The Shanghai municipal government has decided to invest 3.68 billion yuan (US$445 million) to upgrade its power grid this year, a senior official said Tuesday.
Vice-Mayor Tang Dengjie said at a work conference on electricity that Shanghai plans to build a world-class power grid similar to other international metropolises in order to ensure the city�s social and economic development.
Shanghai's demand for electricity will continue to grow in 2003.The power load for this summer's peak season is expected to reach 13.5 million kilowatts, a year-on-year rise of 9.3 percent.
As the city's generation capacity remains at 8.3 million kilowatts, there would be a shortfall of 1.08 million kilowatts, forcing Shanghai to buy electricity from other regions.
The city electricity company has begun drawing up a set of new regulations on the use of electricity to ensure supply to residents and businesses.
(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2003)
