Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan has set a new record for daily electricity consumption amid an ongoing abnormal heatwave, according to the press service of the Ministry of Energy.

The National Dispatch Center reported that from 16 to 21 July, the country’s power system recorded historically high levels of electricity usage. For the first time in the nation’s history, summer consumption figures exceeded winter peaks. On 18 July, electricity consumption reached 272.6 million kWh, surpassing both the previous winter record of 271.8 million kWh and the summer record of 253.3 million kWh.

In addition, on 21 July at 5:00 p.m., the energy system experienced a record peak load of 13.3 GW — significantly higher than the winter maximum of 12.5 GW and the July 2024 level of 11.8 GW.

The sharpest increase in consumption was observed in Tashkent. Daily electricity usage in the capital reached 32.4 million kWh, a 33% increase compared to the same period last year. The maximum load hit 1,811 MW, also exceeding last year’s figure of 1,680 MW. Overall, electricity consumption in July is up 7.6% year-on-year, with an 11% increase since the start of the month.

The Ministry of Energy stated that in order to maintain network stability and respond swiftly to malfunctions during peak hours, the Regional Electric Networks company has deployed around-the-clock emergency crews. The ministry also urged citizens to use electricity responsibly and avoid turning on energy-intensive appliances unless absolutely necessary.