Five provinces in South China are experiencing the most severe electricity shortage in the past five years, leaving 10 percent of the region's demand for electricity unmet, according to China National Radio.

Among the five provinces, the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and Guizhou province fall almost 20 percent short of being able to produce the electricity needed.

The hot weather as well as the scarcity of rain and shortage of coal has contributed to the power shortage.

Local power authorities have limited the amount of time each district has access to electricity. Some manufacturing companies are resorting to using generators for power.

By Sun Yuanqing