The government is launching measures to stabilize the power grid as electricity demand decreases during the autumn season. With reduced power consumption from industrial and commercial facilities during the Chuseok holiday, the government plans to balance supply and demand by reducing generation and increasing electricity consumption during daylight hours, as renewable energy sources like solar power continue to generate electricity.
On September 10, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, led by Minister Kim Sung-hwan, is reviewing the current power supply situation and operational plans for the autumn season at the Han River Flood Control Center in Seocho-gu, Seoul.
This autumn, the focus of power supply management will be on effectively managing excess generation rather than a shortage of electricity.
The power grid must maintain a real-time balance between the electricity produced by power plants and the electricity consumed by users. As the share of renewable energy, which varies with weather conditions, increases, there is a growing need to accurately predict and control the output from smaller generation sources.
This issue becomes more pronounced in autumn, as cooling demand significantly decreases compared to summer. On sunny and cool days, solar and wind generation can increase, leading to a higher likelihood of supply exceeding demand, especially during weekends or holidays when industrial and commercial electricity consumption drops.
The government anticipates that total power demand will fall to 47.3GW at 1 p.m. on Chuseok, September 25.
To address this, the government has designated a 58-day period from September 19 to November 15 as the 'Autumn Power Supply Stabilization Measures Period' to manage the power grid. This aims to prevent localized supply-demand imbalances or system instability from escalating into nationwide power grid instability.
First, the government will minimize situations where excess power is generated. It will adjust maintenance schedules for major generators to reduce the number of operating units and minimize the operation of coal-fired power plants.
Conversely, during times of low electricity consumption, the government will work to increase demand. It will enhance the 'Plus Demand Response (DR)' program to boost consumption during surplus periods and adjust the charging times for energy storage systems (ESS) linked to solar power.
The charging time for ESS, previously set from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., will be shifted to 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the stabilization period. This adjustment aims to encourage the storage of surplus electricity in ESS during peak solar generation hours.
Electric vehicle (EV) charging will also be utilized to increase electricity demand during daylight hours. The government plans to temporarily discount electricity rates for EV chargers from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends and holidays in September and October.
For residential and commercial EV charging, the electricity rate will be discounted by 50%. Rates for charging service providers, including public institutions, local governments, and private charging operators, will be reduced by up to 32%. This initiative aims to distribute and encourage EV charging during low-demand weekend hours to maintain balance in the power grid.
Should generation significantly exceed demand despite these measures, the government will implement output control to directly reduce generator output.
To enhance predictability for power producers, the government plans to provide notifications about the need for output control three times: the day before, at 9 a.m. on the day of, and 30 minutes prior to the control. However, in cases of sudden weather changes requiring real-time responses, the government will provide advance notice as much as possible before implementing output control.
Minister Kim Sung-hwan stated, "Electricity is a core resource that supports the lives and economy of the people, so it is crucial to ensure stable power supply management without any gaps. We will work closely with relevant agencies to ensure the stable operation of the power system this autumn, allowing citizens to celebrate the Chuseok holiday with peace of mind."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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