Venezuela’s electricity demand hits 16,400 MW nine-year peak as Super Niño heat wave strains national grid

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez visited the National Electric Dispatch Center in Caracas on September 24, 2026, immediately after returning from the United Nations General Assembly in New York, to assess the National Electric System’s response to the unprecedented demand surge. Officials recorded a peak load exceeding 16,400 megawatts, with Vice President for Public Works Juan José Ramírez citing a precise figure of 16,424 MW during the week. The demand spike represents the highest level documented in nine years, directly linked to sustained heat waves driven by the Super Niño climatic event that has elevated temperatures nationwide and triggered intensive use of air conditioning and refrigeration equipment across residential and commercial sectors.

Rodríguez appealed to citizens to moderate electricity consumption, acknowledging the natural impulse to activate cooling systems during extreme heat but emphasizing that collective restraint is essential to stabilize the grid. The government deployed personnel from the Bolivarian National Armed Forces to hydroelectric plants, thermal generation facilities, and strategic substations to monitor network behavior in real time. Authorities established continuous supervision protocols at the National Dispatch Center to calibrate load requirements and prevent systemic failures while the heat wave persists.

The demand peak occurs as multiple states including Guárico, Portuguesa, Aragua, Anzoátegui, Lara, Zulia, and Mérida report power outages lasting up to sixteen hours daily under an unpublished rationing schedule. Citizens have staged protests over chronic supply disruptions, which opposition groups and independent analysts attribute to infrastructure decay and insufficient maintenance. The government counters that international sanctions, the Super Niño phenomenon, and alleged sabotage by “mafias” are responsible for grid instability.

Venezuela recently formalized a strategic alliance with General Electric Vernova to strengthen the National Electric System and restore infrastructure in the petroleum industry. The agreement follows a June 2026 memorandum of understanding and builds on April 2026 negotiations with Siemens for similar technical cooperation. The Dispatch Center previously recorded a 16,030 MW peak on September 19, 2026, which the latest figures have now surpassed.

The administration maintains that complementary thermal and hydroelectric generation from the Guri complex remains critical as the Super Niño weather pattern affects reservoir levels. Officials continue executing a capacity incorporation plan that includes thermal system recovery, equipment replacement, and electrical infrastructure investment to address the structural pressure on generation and distribution assets.