TEHRAN – Iranian Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi said his ministry is pursuing 14 major plans to prepare the country’s electricity sector for passing next summer’s peak consumption period, IRIB reported.

Speaking at a meeting with managers of the country’s electricity sector, Aliabadi said: “Maintaining water reserves for maximum use of the capacity of hydroelectric power plants, developing the capacity of renewable power plants, performing power plant overhauls on time, removing the limitations of the power grid, and paying special attention to promoting consumption awareness are among the measures that the ministry is going to take to pass the next year’s peak summer period.”

The minister stated that the stable supply of electricity during the next year’s peak consumption period depends on the timely repairs of the power plants in the current year, adding: “It is also necessary to create new ways to engage people in consumption management programs by raising awareness.”

Emphasizing the necessity of the strict implementation of the programs set with the aim of providing stable electricity in the coming winter and next summer, he said: “Due to the reduction of electricity consumption in the cold season of the year, it is necessary to pay special attention to the timely repair and eliminating power plant problems so that we can produce and supply electricity with the maximum available capacity at the peak consumption period of the next year.”

The official further pointed out the importance of informing and reforming the mechanisms of dialogue with the people about the electricity industry and stated: “One of the major challenges of the country's electricity industry is the high consumption of a small group of subscribers in various sectors, especially the household sector. We need to draw new mechanisms for interaction and dialogue with the people while increasing their awareness in this regard, to increase their participation in consumption management and optimization.”

EF/MA