The heatwave has pushed electricity demand to its limit, highlighting the pressure on the grid. According to the government, the first days of August brought the highest level of consumption recorded so far, at a time when the system is also facing fires near energy infrastructure.
August 12 recorded the highest daily consumption
According to Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi, a new record for daily electricity consumption was registered on August 12, 2026, at around 27,809 MWh.
According to the official version, this figure is about 5% higher than the previous record registered on August 13, 2025.
Strong increase also in the monthly average
Data released by the government show that the daily average consumption for the period August 1–12, 2026 reached 25,787 MWh.
This translates into an increase of around 22% compared with the daily average in August 2025, an indicator that raises questions about the burden on the system at the peak of the summer season.
July and August at a historic peak
According to the announced figures, July and August 2026 marked the highest consumption levels, at 26,488 MWh and 27,809 MWh, respectively.
The increase in demand is linked to high temperatures, but the official statement gives no further details on the concrete impact on supply costs or on managing the load on the grid.
Fires near power lines add risk to supply
Alongside record consumption, the Transmission System Operator and the Distribution System Operator are also having to deal with difficult situations created by fires near substations and transmission lines.
The minister said teams are working without interruption to guarantee the safety and continuity of supply, while it remains to be seen how resilient the infrastructure is in the face of increased load and risks on the ground.
The government announcement highlights a strong combination of pressures on the energy system: rising demand and operational risk from fires.
What is missing at this stage is fuller data on the real cost of this consumption peak and on the concrete measures being taken to avoid more serious problems on the grid.