Colombia records historic electricity generation peak on August 5

On August 5 2026, Colombia's National Interconnected System recorded the highest daily generation ever: 264.91 gigawatt-hours (GWh). The record comes amid rising consumption and shrinking water reserves.

Generation peak on August 5, 2026

According to XM operator's daily report, the production of 264.91 GWh surpassed all previous measurements in a single day. This figure represents the peak generation to date, according to SIN operator data.

Why thermal plants ran at full capacity

Javier Bustos, analyst at the Observadores Col Observatory and energy consultant, explained that the peak occurred mainly because thermal plants returned to full-capacity operation, highlighting Tebsa, the country's largest thermal generator. The restart followed the completion of maintenance on the SPEC regasification plant in Cartagena, which imports the gas used for electricity production.

Reservoir decline and pressure on hydroelectricity

The same analyst noted that the combination of increased thermal generation with the recent SPEC maintenance raised water consumption in reservoirs, which fell 2 % in just ten days. Bustos warned that Colombian households should optimise energy use while the system goes through this critical period.

Demand growth and regional imbalance

XM reports indicate that demand has been growing steadily. In May 2026, daily demand reached 261.86 GWh, with a peak capacity of 12,475 MW – historic records. May consumption rose 8.75 % compared with 2025, attributed to higher average and extreme temperatures reported by IDEAM. In August, demand hit 262.67 GWh per day, representing a 7.43 % increase over the same month in 2025.

The increase is not uniform: the Chocó region recorded a 37.52 % rise, followed by the Caldas, Quindío, Risaralda and Valle del Cauca zones (26.75 %). Guaviare, Antioquia, the Caribbean region and the central part of the country showed smaller gains, between 3.65 % and 11.02 %.

Challenges ahead of El Niño and recommendations

For the 2026‑2027 period, XM warns of a negative gap of 5,468 GWh per year between expected consumption and firm available energy (Enficc). Compared with the 2015‑2016 El Niño event, current demand exceeds that then by about 60 GWh per day. Only 20 GWh per day of this increase is covered by solar energy; the remaining 40 GWh per day depend on thermal and hydro plants, which suffer when water is scarce or gas prices rise.

Wear on the transmission network and high temperatures have already led XM to issue load‑shedding instructions, especially in the Caribbean region, where 266 of the 281 instructions issued in 2026 were carried out. Analyst Bustos links the demand surge to the 2026‑2027 El Niño, which he expects to last until April, when rains should return. In the meantime, the system will be more vulnerable both in water and in imported gas costs.

As a mitigation measure, the operator recommends the immediate activation of demand‑management mechanisms, reinforcement of energy‑saving campaigns, and updating consumption forecasts, taking into account the real effect of high temperatures. Bustos also suggests that Colombia keep three to four coal‑fired generation units, noting that the country already has five to six units, such as those in Zipaquirá and Gecelca, and that wind power has yet to take off, with no large‑scale projects in the last four years.

With information from El Colombiano.