SHANGHAI - The State Grid, China's major power provider, said on its website Monday that recent winter storms pushed coal demand higher and also caused traffic disruptions that have hindered coal deliveries, the Associated Press reported.

Power cuts and rationing are hitting parts of central and northern China as winter coal supplies fall short due to extreme cold weather and transport disruptions, the report said.

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Some coal suppliers are holding back on shipments to utilities because contract prices for coal were below market prices, according to the report.