KUWAIT CITY, May 14: Electricity consumption reached 11,147 megawatts at 2:30 pm on Thursday — a record close to the red line indicating a very hot summer. With rising temperatures which reached 45 degrees Celsius in some parts of the country, the electricity consumption rate went up dramatically. This is the first time that the electricity consumption rate reached such records at the beginning of summer.Meanwhile, Head of the Rationalization in Private and Public Sectors Team at the Ministry of Electricity and Water Iqbal Al-Tayyar called on consumers to fully cooperate with the ministry in reducing power load. She advised the public to refrain from using thermal appliances like washing machines and iron clothes at noon when electricity consumption is higher, keep the curtains and windows closed in order to maintain the heat outside, and adjust the air conditioning units to automatic system.She revealed the ministry teams will soon start conducting field tours to raise public awareness on the importance of saving electricity. On the other hand, sources said completion of 95 percent of maintenance works in power plants, confirming that maintenance works are ongoing as planned.They added the maintenance works in all power and distillation plants will be completed by the end of May. Sources said the ministry has completed preparations for summer with 2,400 megawatts reserve over and above the expected highest consumption this season.