Unusually hot weather has led to concerns in Taiwan that the national power company – Taipower – might not be able to keep up with the demand for electricity. On Wednesday, the company’s operating reserve was down to 1.9%, with people cranking up their air conditioners to beat the heat.
Taipower official Lan Hung-wei said Thursday that a change in weather could bring relief to Taiwan’s summertime energy woes.
“I really hope that a typhoon could sweep through Taiwan and bring down the temperatures," said Lan.
"That would be the biggest help," he said. "And it would also fill up the reservoirs, which would be useful for creating hydropower. It would not only increase supply, it would also decrease demand. The bigger the disparity between the two, the higher the operating reserves.”
Lan said that water officials have protested the recent use of water to create hydroelectricity, saying that if it continues, they will have to reenact water-saving measures.