Al-Mukhizeem: 70-megawatt drop in electricity consumption

Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy Dr. Subhi Al-Mukhazim revealed that Kuwait’s electrical grid concluded the 2026 summer season with a peak electrical load of 17,540 megawatts, a decrease of 70 megawatts compared to the 17,610 megawatts recorded in the 2025 summer season. This marks the second consecutive year of declining peak electrical loads.

In a press statement, Al-Mukhazim noted that this indicator is a continuation of the shift that began in the 2025 summer season, when the peak electrical load recorded its first decline compared to 2024, which stood at 17,640 megawatts. He said this reflects a positive trend in consumption efficiency, despite ongoing urban, population, and economic expansion and the addition of new electrical loads to the grid.

He explained that the additional electrical loads resulting from connecting new facilities to the power grid amounted to 1,059 megawatts during the period from the 2024 summer season to the 2025 summer season, and 1,019 megawatts during the period from the 2025 summer season to the 2026 summer season, totaling 2,078 megawatts from the 2024 summer season through the 2026 summer season.

Nevertheless, the peak electrical load in the 2026 summer season remained lower than the levels recorded in the 2024 and 2025 summer seasons, underscoring the impact of efforts to improve energy use efficiency and optimize consumption patterns, particularly during peak hours.

Load Management Measures

Al-Mukhazim affirmed that the measures taken to manage electrical loads during the summer season directly contributed to alleviating pressure on the electrical grid, especially during peak periods. These measures included reducing working hours in government entities by one hour, halting operations in factories during peak hours, and implementing the National Campaign for Energy and Water Conservation (Waffar), along with its media and awareness efforts to promote a culture of conservation and reduce consumption. He commended the cooperation of citizens, residents, government and private entities, and the media, which helped support electrical load management. He explained that these measures effectively reduced electricity demand during peak hours, thereby supporting service continuity and the grid’s ability to meet the country’s needs during periods of highest consumption.

He noted that the 2026 summer season unfolded under exceptionally difficult circumstances due to regional developments affecting the country and the region, as well as illicit Iranian attacks on parts of the electrical system. These attacks targeted several power generation and desalination stations, fuel storage tanks, and overhead transmission lines, resulting in the outage of several generation units and system components and affecting certain production and operational capacities.

He explained that the repercussions of these circumstances also extended to routine and preventive maintenance programs, as some work could not be carried out according to the scheduled timelines. Maintenance work on several units was affected and was gradually completed by the end of August. He added that despite these unusual operational conditions, the resulting technical damage, unit outages, and disruptions to maintenance programs, the ministry’s teams and technical staff worked around the clock to repair the damage, restore affected units and facilities to service, and maintain the readiness of the system. This enabled the ministry to ensure service continuity and meet the country’s needs throughout the summer season.

Waffar Campaign

Al-Mukhazim highlighted the importance of the National Campaign for Energy and Water Conservation (Waffar) in stabilizing the electricity and water systems during the 2026 summer season. He said the campaign directly supported service continuity through public engagement with conservation messages and the reduction of unnecessary consumption during peak hours, helping to ease pressure on the electrical grid during the most challenging periods. He added that the campaign continued to expand its community presence throughout 2026 through partnerships with government and private entities, and by implementing programs, lectures, activities, and awareness messages targeted at various segments of society. This strengthened the culture of responsible use of electricity and water and reinforced the concept of shared responsibility in preserving the country’s resources.

Al-Mukhazim emphasized that the results of the 2026 summer season confirm that consumption conservation is no longer merely an awareness issue but has become a key complementary element in the state’s plans to enhance the security and sustainability of the electricity and water systems. He stressed that sustaining these results requires coordinated efforts among state institutions, the private sector, and individuals, along with the entrenchment of prudent practices throughout the year.