BEIJING - China's power consumption is expected to pick up growth in the first quarter of this year from a relatively slower growth rate in the January-February period, according to a report from the China Electricity Council (CEC).

The CEC said in its monthly analysis that the country's energy consumption in the first quarter is likely to grow by 7 to 8 percent from a year earlier, up from a 6.7-percent year-on-year growth in the first two months of this year.

Social power consumption is witnessing a steady increase due to a rise in temperatures and recovering industrial production, the CEC report said, adding that March's power consumption may reach 420 to 430 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), up 8 to 10 percent year on year.

The expected first quarter growth represents a large decline from the 13.41-percent growth recorded in the same period last year, the CEC said.

For the first half of this year, the CEC said it expects total power consumption to grow by 9 percent, reaching 2.44 to 2.47 trillion kilowatt-hours, it said.

There will be an overall balance between China's power demand and supply before summer this year, with a power shortage of no more than 10 to 20 million kilowatts, it said.

The CEC warned that the recovery in industrial production will create pressure for thermal power suppliers, while thermal power plants are facing declining investment and rising coal prices.