Demand for electricity on May 28 highest in country's history - TNB

TNB Corporate Communications general manager Omar Sidek said Malaysia recorded power usage of 16,583 MW on May 28.

He added that due to the current hot spell, the usage of electricity from 2pm to 5pm remained at the peak every day, TNB said in a statement today.

"The El Nino effect can be felt through the intense heat generated due to the dry spell. So naturally there will be a high demand for the consumption of electricity," he said.

He said consumers must try to conserve electricity to reduce the burden of the production of electricity.

"Based on the El Nino experience in 2009, the burden on electricity production increased by two percent more than the projected figure. So, the El Nino phenomenon is expected to increase the demand for electricity in the coming months," he said in the statement.

The El Nino phenomenon not only sees a drop in water level, it also reduces the ability to use hydro power fully compared with using gas and coal, he said.

Omar therefore urged consumers to conserve energy at factories, houses and offices by regulating the air conditioning between 23 and 25 Celsius, do ironing at night or washing machines and boil water during off peak periods.

He also urged factories that used large quantities of electricity to operate at night.