Electricity demand is expected to be higher today than yesterday, due to the unseasonal heatwave, Spokeswoman of the Cyprus Transmission System Operator (TSOC), Chara Kousiappa told CNA, noting that the maximum demand is expected to reach 1,150 MB during peak time, around 14:30.

Overnight, demand continued to be at high levels, said Kousiappa, adding that compared to conventional production, the maximum demand during the evening peak hours (at 19:00) was 980 MB.

"Demand is expected to be high today. This is constantly being reassessed, it is constantly being reviewed throughout the day. Right now we expect the peak demand to be 1,150 MB during peak hours, around 2:30pm," she noted.

Asked whether we can talk about record demand, TSOC Spokewoman told CNA that last year a record demand was recorded at the end of July, which was higher than the current demand. As she said, on 24 July last year, at 14:30, a maximum demand of 1,243 MB was recorded, which was the highest of all years to date. According to Kousiappa, so far this record "has not been surpassed", however, she added "it looks like we are going to be very close and it is still June".

Moreover, she said that the maximum estimated contribution of photovoltaics during peak hours yesterday (around 13:00), reached around 486 MB.

Overnight, when demand continued to be high, a demand of 980 MB was covered from conventional production, because at that time there was no significant contribution from renewables.

Asked if we will have electricity sufficiency in the summer, she noted that we are currently cutting it fine in relation to available conventional production but there are units under maintenance, which are expected to be delivered on schedule. So, she said, if everything goes well, "it is expected that there will be sufficient supply, barring any unforeseen event."