"To achieve steady supply of electricity, power generation companies need to consciously obey the command of power dispatching agencies, (...) while strengthening the safety management of power generation equipment, improve equipment maintenance levels," Wang Yeping, SERC vice chairman, said at the regulator's annual briefing on the operating mode of China's power grid on Friday. The Chinese regulator published a transcript of the meeting on its website late Monday.

"Now that summer peak demand approaches, power companies and regulators need to better plan and coordinate the plant dispatchment and operating mode," Wang told attendees at the SERC's briefing.

Plant operators should "continue to report and disclose information on plant scheduling, while stepping up scheduling of trans-regional and inter-provincial electricity exchanges", he said. Electricity is imports and exports between China's provinces helps to safeguard the country's supply & demand balance. To this end, SERC issues regular electricity balancing forecasts.

Wang also called for concerted effort of electricity producers and TSOs to fast-track the construction of new electricity interconnectors with a view of "improving wind power integration and network management".

Coal-fired power generation still covers the bulk of China's electricity demand, with gas-to-power generation on the rise as the country aims to improve its carbon footprint. "In the case of fluctuating electricity supply, healthy coal reserves are needed to avoid the shutdown of coal-fired power plant units as this may impact on grid stability," he said.