With temperatures expected to climb toward the 40 Celsius (104F) mark today, power company officials are hoping that the country’s power grid will perform under pressure, given the expected surge in demand.

According to sources, the Public Power Corporation (PPC) yesterday resorted to increasing imported energy from Italy and Bulgaria after three of its electricity units suffered technical problems.

Demand reached a new record of 9,300 megawatts around midday yesterday while PPC officials foresee a figure closer to 9,500MW today.

In a bid to ease the system, PPC has launched a campaign calling for residents to reduce their electricity use between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas said yesterday that Greeks had been responding to the campaign but there are concerns that residents will be less sensitive to the plea as the temperature climbs.

Temperatures across Greece today are expected to reach 39C (102F).