(Yicai Global) Aug. 19 -- Chengdu, the capital of southwestern Sichuan province, started to switch off advertising boards and other outdoor illuminations yesterday in the latest move to save power as record high temperatures lead to drought, cutting hydropower generation in half.

All outdoor lighting systems that do not have a safety function should be turned off, including landscape lighting, light shows and other image displays, the city government said on Aug. 16.

The heatwave that started last month has brought drought and a surge in power demand to keep cooling systems running. This summer, the province faces the most extreme heat, lowest rainfall and heaviest power load in history, China Central Television reported on Aug. 17.

Load shedding has already started at many high-energy consuming companies in order to prioritize electricity supply to households, the province’s largest power supplier, State Grid Sichuan Electric Power, said earlier this week.

Eighty percent of Sichuan’s electricity comes from hydropower plants and high temperatures and drought have caused a significant fall in river water, Zhou Jian, deputy chief engineer at State Grid Sichuan’s regulation and control center, said earlier. Some major plants have bottomed out, halving provincial hydropower capacity, he added.

All outdoor lights at the normally colorfully lit Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li, a landmark shopping mall, were switched off yesterday.

One of the entrances to Taikoo Li is hard to see in the dark.

Chengdu subway stations only had half their lights operating yesterday. All advertising billboards were turned off.

The air conditioning on the city's subway stations has been adjusted to over 27 degrees Celcius to save energy.

Editors: Dou Shicong, Kim Taylor