The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
  • Translation Award
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • all menu
  • search
  • facebookfacebook
  • twittertwitter
  • youtubeyoutube
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • all menu
  • search
  • facebookfacebook
  • twittertwitter
  • youtubeyoutube
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Mon, December 9, 2019 | 12:06
Business
Blackouts hit Korea nationwide
Posted : 2011-09-15 20:55
Updated : 2011-09-15 20:55
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down

Police officers guide vehicles with hand signals on a street in Nowon-gu, northern Seoul after traffic lights failed due to a sudden power outage Thursday. The unprecedented blackout, which hit nationwide, was caused by unseasonably high power demand amid unusually hot weather. / Yonhap

Unseasonal heat wave, plant maintenance blamed for unprecedented power cuts

By Kim Tae-gyu

Rolling power outages occurred in Seoul and other areas Thursday, cutting off electricity to at least 1.62 million households, stranding people n elevators, causing accidents after traffic lights failed, threatening patients at hospitals and disrupting operations at factories.

The blackouts ― unprecedented in scale in peacetime ― were caused by a failure of the state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) to prepare for a surge in electricity use triggered by the ongoing late heat wave, and it carrying out maintenance at power plants.

KEPCO made the situation worse by turning off the electrical supply arbitrarily without warning residents of areas to be affected, adding to the confusion. KEPCO is being run by an acting CEO after Kim Ssang-soo quit before his term was up.

Officials at KEPCO and its supervisor, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE), said that supply capacity had been moderated as a summer is coming to an end and demand was tapering off, not expecting a surge in use.

The rolling blackouts took place for 30 minutes in each region, according to the ministry. KEPCO said power services returned to normal as of 7:56 p.m.

``We expected that the peak demand for electricity would be around 64 million kilowatts but the actual figure jumped to 67.26 million kilowatts because of the heat wave, while the power reserve fell below 4 million kilowatts,’’ MKE director Kim Do-gyun said.

``We employed a variety of measures to keep the reserve above 4 million kilowatts, but to little avail. In order to prevent a possible blackout of the entire nation, we had no choice but to follow guidelines limiting power to specific regions in rotation, for the first time.’’

Kim contended that only households, small-sized apartments and commercial facilities without elevators were affected by the step, which KEPCO is allowed to take without prior notice.

Yet, numerous reports were filed throughout Thursday afternoon and evening that people were stuck in elevators and large-sized office buildings including retail chains and department stores and even industrial complexes suffered power failures.

A host of traffic signs failed prompting the police to issue an alert and cell phones did not work in some regions.

``As electricity usage goes down in September, 23 power stations including a couple of nuclear reactors are currently undergoing maintenance,’’ MKE Deputy Minister Jeong Jae-hoon said.

``We failed to make a correct prediction on power demand as well as to announce the power limit in advance. We feel responsibility for that along with KEPCO.’’

Beginning Friday, the MKE plans to operate some of the 23 power stations in question whose combined capacity amounts to 8.34 million kilowatts. However, it remains to be seen whether the country will be able to meet the increasing power demand amid the ongoing heat wave.

Maximum temperatures have topped 30 degrees Celsius of late, several degrees higher than average. The trend is projected to continue for the time being according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.

Almost all areas including Seoul and its vicinity faced power outages but major companies Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor and POSCO did not experience any production disruption since they are equipped with their own emergency power generators.

In the aftermath of the power cut, KEPCO came under fire for not making enough investments. The company has experienced snowballing deficits over the past few years, amounting to trillions of won.

Its leadership vacancy is also on the lips of the watchers ― former President Kim Ssang-su resigned late August and incoming CEO Kim Joong-kyum is poised to take charge of the utility next week if he wins the approval of shareholders today.
Emailvoc200@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
Citizens caught off guard by blackout
An unexpected electricity outage, caused by unseasonably high power demand, struck across the country Thursday, causing a great deal of inconvenience to residents....








 
 
  • numberFirms withdraw from China on worsening business conditions
  • numberKorean tourist injured in unprovoked knife attack in Thailand
  • numberPearl Harbor attack brings war to Korea
  • numberNew NK test escalates tension on peninsula
  • numberSeoul not to issue driver's license to short-term foreign visitors
  • numberGov't seeking to levy taxes on virtual currency
  • number'Son-aldo!': Mourinho salutes South Korean's wonder-goal
  • numberFears renewed on foreign capital exodus
  • number[INTERVIEW] 'Korea's anti-corruption policies a beacon for other Asian countries'
  • numberTrump warns N. Korea not to interfere with his reelection bid
  • Singer Kim Gun-mo embroiled in sexual assault scandal Singer Kim Gun-mo embroiled in sexual assault scandal
  • Korean pop culture producers eyeing Southeast Asia Korean pop culture producers eyeing Southeast Asia
  • Married actresses returning to small screen after childbirth Married actresses returning to small screen after childbirth
  • BTS performs at 2019 KIIS-FM Jingle Ball concert [PHOTOS] BTS performs at 2019 KIIS-FM Jingle Ball concert [PHOTOS]
  • Disney's 'Frozen 2' tops 10 mil. admissions in Korea Disney's 'Frozen 2' tops 10 mil. admissions in Korea
DARKROOM
  • Global climate change: time is running out

    Global climate change: time is running out

  • CA cave fire burns more than 4,300 acres

    CA cave fire burns more than 4,300 acres

  • No money, no hope: South Korea's 'Dirt Spoons'

    No money, no hope: South Korea's 'Dirt Spoons'

  • Hong Kong democrats score historic victory

    Hong Kong democrats score historic victory

  • Halloween

    Halloween

  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Ombudsman
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright