Panama records a new record in electricity consumption

He National Dispatch Center of the Electricity Transmission Company (Etesa) reported that this Tuesday May 2 a new historical record was recorded in the demand for energy in the country.

On this occasion consumption was reached 2150MW at 2:34 this afternoon.

General Director of Etasa, Carlos Mosquera-Castillohe explained that while in previous years, once, one day a year, electricity consumption was above average, so far in 2023, the maximum demand has already exceeded the historical record reached in 2022 five times.

“There are various factors that influence the increase in energy consumption, and one of them is undoubtedly the production activities of the commercial and industrial sectors,” he said.

Mosquera mentioned that although the country’s installed capacity for electricity generation doubles the current demand, he urged the population to use electricity responsibly.

The previous maximum peaks of electricity consumption are:

Year 2023 – April 4, 2 thousand 78 MW and 2 thousand 79 MW

Year 2023 – March 27, 2 thousand 59 MW

Year 2022 – May 4, 2 thousand 31 MW

Year 2021 – May 20, 2 thousand 20 MW

Consumption per inhabitant is approx 2,001 kWh. Panama could be completely self-sufficient with its own energy production. The total production of all electricity production plants amounts to eleven million kWh, which represents 122% of the country’s own consumption.

In Panama, electricity consumption is dominated by the commercial sector compared to the residential sector.