Power consumption declining in Ukraine - Ukrenergo

MOSCOW. March 27 (Interfax) - Electricity consumption in Ukraine decreased considerably on Monday week-on-week due to notable rise in air temperatures and the conclusion of the heating season in a number of the country's regions, the Ukrenergo power grid operator said.

"Power plants of all kinds are functioning. The current amount of electricity generation is sufficient to cover all consumption needs," Ukrainian media outlets quoted Ukrenergo as saying on social media.

The transition to summer time overnight into Sunday has had no serious impact on the functioning of the energy system, the company said.

The intensive operations of hydropower plants are being maintained throughout the day and are increasing further in order to cover peak-hour consumption in the energy system, Ukrenergo said. Electricity imports in small quantities are also continuing.

Meanwhile, power consumption limits remain in place in the Zhitomir region because of the serious damage sustained by the grid.

"In other regions, there are no constraints in Ukrenergo's grids that would prompt the introduction of consumption limits," the company said.

Repair efforts to eliminate transmission constraints in the grid and enhance the reliability of power supply are continuing at all damaged facilities of Ukrenergo, it said.

Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko, for his part, said that despite a certain increase in demand, the current level of generation with a reserve margin is providing the sufficient amount of electricity to cover consumers' needs across the country.