Heat Wave Pushes Brazil’s Sunday Power Use to Highest Since February

Overview

• On Sunday, December 28, Brazil’s average system load topped 79,000 MW, nearly 10% higher than the previous Sunday and the highest Sunday reading since February 23.
• Rio de Janeiro’s health department declared a public‑health emergency after nearly 2,000 heat‑related cases in 15 days, with free hydration points set up in high‑traffic areas such as train stations.
• Energy specialists link the surge to heavy use of fans and air‑conditioners compounded by end‑of‑year routines and home office patterns that concentrate consumption.
• Experts flag evening peak hours around 18:00–21:00 as the most sensitive period for demand and encourage shifting cooling outside this window when possible.
• A 1,000 W air‑conditioner running eight hours uses about 8 kWh per day or 240 kWh per month, so guidance stresses 23–25°C setpoints, closed doors and windows, avoiding short cycles, timers, economy modes, and inverter models.