Abstract: The electric power consumption characteristics of the year 2012 was reviewed and the power demand, supply and balance of the year 2013 was forecasted, which indicates that as a result of macro economic controls, the growth rate of national power demand will pick up, and the national power demand and supply will be balanced as a whole if no extreme weather occurs. Based on the analysis of power supply and demand in 2012, it is predicted that the installed capacity of the whole country will increase by 75 000 MW and the utilization hours of generators will reach to 4 716 h. It is pointed out that the attention should be paid on power source area distribution, renewable energy power generation, power grid construction and thermal power price system.

Key words: economic slowdown, power demand-supply balance, power source area layout, thermal power price system