Vice-Mayor Tang Dengjie said at a work conference on electricity that Shanghai plans to build a world-class power grid similar to other international metropolises in order to ensure the city's social and economic development.

Shanghai's demand for electricity will continue to grow in 2003. The power load for this summer's peak season is expected to reach 13.5 million kilowatts, a year-on-year rise of 9.3 percent.

As the city's generation capacity remains at 8.3 million kilowatts, there would be a shortfall of 1.08 million kilowatts, forcing Shanghai to buy electricity from other regions.

The city electricity company has begun drawing up a set of new regulations on the use of electricity to ensure supply to residents and businesses.

(Xinhua News Agency February 25, 2003)