Electricity consumption in Beijing set a record Friday as the city sweltered.

The power grid reported a peak 12.56 million kilowatts of electricity consumption as of 4:06 p.m., the highest in history, said Tang Ruhai, a spokesman with the Beijing Electric Power Company, under the State Grid.

The summer peak was 12.57 kw last year and 11.9 kw in 2007, Tang said.

Beijing has had scorching weather since Tuesday, with daily maximum temperatures exceeding 37 degrees Celsius.

"Maximum electricity demand is expected to reach 14 million kilowatts this year," he said.

The city would have a relatively cooler weekend, as thundershowers were forecast on Saturday and Sunday that would lower the maximum temperature to 33 degrees Celsius, according to the National Meteorological Center.

Source: Xinhua