At 8:00 a.m. on January 29, 2008, the Guangzhou area hit peak load levels once again. The Guangzhou Power Supply Bureau launched the power supply emergency plan, strengthening the available power supply for key sites with high demand during the Spring Festival transportation period. Facilities such as the airport, railway stations, and long distance bus stations were specifically cited. The power supply authority directed the high-demand enterprises to use power at peak load times, while directing that landscape lighting in urban areas should reduce usage by 30-50% of normal load levels at peak consumption periods from 18:00 to 19:30.

The power shortage in Guangdong Province was abruptly increased due to snowstorms in northern China, the largest shortage exceeding 10 million KW. Accordingly, the largest power shortage in Guangzhou might exceed 1.5 million KW. To ensure the power supply of the key places for the Spring Festival transportation, the Economic and Trade Commission of Guangzhou Municipality and the Guangzhou Power Supply Bureau jointly issued the implementation use plan for peak power load times due to power shortages during the current winter period.

Faciltities on the power supply priority list, include Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, Guangzhou Railway Station and the long distance bus stations, 8 pharmaceutical enterprises, 19 grain and oil distribution centers, meat products centers, and food and beverage enterprises. Also listed as key enterprises were the Guangzhou Baiyunshan Pharmaceutical General Factory, Guangzhou Meat United Processing Factory and Fruit and Vegetable distribution centers.

Source: gz.gov.cn english website