The National Development and Reform Commission stated on March 20 that in February this year, the country's maximum power limit load was 5.66 million kilowatts, a decrease of 870000 kilowatts month-on-month; the cumulative power limit was 1.29 billion kilowatt-hours, an increase of 0.64 billion kilowatt-hours. The power rationing provinces in that month were mainly concentrated in the five provinces (regions) of Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Hainan under the jurisdiction of China Southern Power Grid. The maximum power rationing loads were 286, 169, 161, 92, and 180000 kilowatts respectively. Among them, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan are mainly affected by the dry water, and the reduction of hydropower generation affects the implementation of the west-to-east power transmission plan; Hainan has a short-term and small amount of power rationing in late February due to unit failure.

According to experts from the China Electricity Union, affected by the drought, the power transmission from Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan and other places to Guangdong Province dropped by 50% from January to February, resulting in a power gap in Guangdong. In order to cope with the power gap, Guangdong Province, on the one hand, to limit electricity, peak adjustment and other ways to curb the rapid rebound of electricity consumption, on the other hand, the local power plant is full. This also made the growth rate of Guangdong's electricity consumption from January to February lower than the national average, only 5.3 per cent, while the growth rate of power generation exceeded 10 per cent.

China Southern Power Grid Corporation pointed out that due to water and coal conditions, water and thermal power units may not be able to output at full capacity, and the power supply may continue to be tight throughout the year. It is predicted that the largest power gap in the whole network this year will be about 13 million kilowatts, especially in April-May before the flood season, when power supply is the most difficult. Judging from the specific conditions of each province, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Guizhou have a tight power supply throughout the year, with a double shortage of electricity, Yunnan showing a seasonal shortage of electricity, and Hainan peak power shortage.

China Southern Power Grid predicts that this year, the southern regional basin water than the multi-year average overall dry. Among them, the Hongshui River is 3-5% dry, the Wujiang River is 4-5% dry, the Lancang River is 2-3% dry, and the Jinsha River is 20% dry. If the incoming water is 20% dry or dry than predicted, it will affect the hydropower generation capacity by about 40 billion kWh. At the same time, the situation of poor coal quality and insufficient quantity also exists. Except Guangdong and Hainan, the supply situation of thermal coal in the other three provinces is relatively severe. Recently, the coal storage of thermal power in Yunnan and Guizhou provinces has entered a white warning state.

Due to the large proportion of thermal power in East China, Central China, North China and other places, coupled with the decline in the growth rate of electricity demand, the supply and demand of electricity is balanced this spring. However, experts from the China Electricity Union pointed out that although the growth rate of electricity consumption has declined year-on-year, electricity consumption is still increasing, especially in March, when industrial electricity is restored, and electricity demand will increase rapidly. There is still a power gap of 3000-40 million kilowatts. Experts predict that the power supply and demand in the North China Power Grid is generally tight this year, and temperature and thermal coal have a greater impact on the balance of power supply and demand. The maximum gap of the entire grid during the summer peak period is about 7 million kilowatts. In addition, the power supply and demand of East China Power Grid is tight, especially during the peak summer period, and the maximum power gap of the whole grid will exceed 12 million kilowatts.