Zhejiang's total electricity consumption exceeded 500 TWh for the first time in the first eight months of 2026, data from State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power Co., Ltd. showed.

Consumption rose 5.43% year on year during the January-August period, according to the grid operator.

The province's power use followed a pattern of steady growth followed by a pullback. In the first seven months, consumption grew 6.92% year on year to 423.5 TWh. In August, consecutive typhoons brought cooler weather than a year earlier, sharply reducing air-conditioning load from households and businesses and causing a temporary drop in demand. Residential electricity use fell 14.02% year on year to 14.12 TWh in August.

Across the three major sectors, electricity consumption all rose in January-August. The primary sector grew 5.80%, the secondary sector 5.88% and the tertiary sector 6.82%, with the services sector leading growth, industry contributing the most and agriculture expanding steadily.

Industrial power use reached 321.28 TWh in the first eight months, up 6.12% year on year. Manufacturing consumed 268.11 TWh, up 5.07%. High-tech and equipment manufacturing posted faster growth, with electricity use in the automotive, computer and communication equipment, special-purpose equipment and general-purpose equipment sectors rising 14.80%, 14.55%, 10.91% and 10.25% respectively, reflecting the province's ongoing industrial upgrade toward high-end and smart manufacturing.

Service-sector electricity consumption also grew across the board. Information transmission, software and IT services rose 13.19%, while wholesale and retail trade increased 11.93%, leading gains.

Internet data services and EV charging and battery-swapping services surged 20.95% and 50.19% respectively, underscoring the rapid expansion of the digital economy and new energy vehicle industry and the continued buildup of new growth drivers in Zhejiang.