China's power output growth slows to 11.7% in April

China’s electricity generation was up 11.7% year-on-year in April, the third straight month of double-digit growth, Reuters reported. However, growth slowed 4.3% from a month earlier as industrial production weakened and coal stocks declined at some regional power plants. Power production at coal-fired thermal power plants slowed 2% in April. An anonymous power analyst said that the slowdown in daily generation level “showed power plants’ reluctance to beef up production due to operating losses.” He said they had “little incentive” to build up coal stockpiles even though there will be increasing demand to run air conditioners during the hot summer months. Some cities in Hunan have already begun to cut power supplies to households due to power shortages.