China's total electricity consumption exceeded 1 trillion kWh in August 2026, with the national power load hitting a record high, according to data released by the National Energy Administration on September 20.

Total power use reached 1,033.2 TWh in August 2026, up 1.7% year on year. The national peak load hit a record 1.56 TW, 49.69 GW above the previous year's maximum, with seven days exceeding last year's peak.

By sector, the primary sector consumed 16.9 TWh of electricity, up 2.7% year on year. The secondary sector used 612.4 TWh, up 2.4%, of which industrial power consumption was 606.5 TWh, up 2.7%. High-tech and equipment manufacturing power use maintained rapid growth at 122.2 TWh, up 7.2% year on year. Computer and communication equipment manufacturing rose 7.5%, automotive manufacturing rose 7.6% (with new energy vehicle manufacturing up 22.2%), general equipment manufacturing rose 7.6%, special-purpose equipment manufacturing rose 8.2% and electrical machinery rose 12.3%.

Tertiary sector used 215.5 TWh, up 5.1% year on year. EV charging and battery-swapping services and internet data services posted strong growth at 17.2 TWh and 10.2 TWh, up 51.2% and 37.9% respectively.

Residential power consumption fell 4.0% year on year to 188.3 TWh, mainly due to more typhoons and heavy rainfall in August 2026 compared with a year earlier, which significantly reduced air conditioning use.

In January-August 2026, cumulative power consumption reached 7,173 TWh, up 4.3% year on year. Primary sector used 104.6 TWh, up 3.3%. The secondary sector consumed 4,529.7 TWh, up 4.4%, of which industrial power use was 4,488 TWh, up 4.6%. High-tech and equipment manufacturing used 845.1 TWh, up 9.3%.

Tertiary sector power consumption totaled 1,425.6 TWh in the first eight months, up 7.1% year on year, with EV charging and battery-swapping services at 114.7 TWh and internet data services at 69.5 TWh, up 55.1% and 42.5% respectively. Residential power use was 1,113.2 TWh, up 0.3%.