It said high power consumption, the demand for heating in the north with the onset of winter and a shortage of water for hydropower production were among the challenges it faced.
“During this winter and spring next year, there will be ‘tight overall balancing and regional shortages’ in the grid, and the grand challenge to supply electricity will continue,” the State Grid Corporation said in a statement.
The country is currently facing its worst power crunch in decades after the electricity supply was hit by coal shortages and aggressive energy consumption curbs to meet emissions targets.
These shortages also pushed up the price of coal, but because power companies are only allowed to pass some of the costs on to consumers, they resorted to cutting their output to remain profitable.
Since August, at least 20 out of the country’s 31 provinces have introduced power rationing to maintain supplies.
China’s economic planner, the National Development and Reform Commission, has met coal producers to limit prices to 1,200 yuan (US$188) a tonne for winter and allowed businesses and industries to buy electricity at market prices. It also launched a nationwide crackdown on coal hoarding and speculation.
The State Grid Corporation said there was currently no need to place restrictions on electricity use except for temporary curbs on some highly polluting and energy-intensive industries.
Read more in South China Morning Post.