Ham Gam villagers experience frequent electricity blackouts, despite two providers

July 22, 2022

HURFOM: Ham Gam villagers are divided over two companies selling electricity service, amidst blackouts and price hikes.

Khan Company has been the main electricity provider, but began to cut its power supply on July 14, 2022. The company began operations in 2016, and the founder, U Inn had provided 24-hour electricity service to Ham Gam.

In 2020-21, he sold his business to a Korean company.

A new company called SEGEP has now appeared and is offering a lower price, but requires villagers to purchase their meter boxes.

“Now, the SEGEP company (the new electricity providing company) said they’ll charge only 1,200 Kyat per 1kWh, so some rich people have made the switch to the new company. Villagers are divided into two groups,” said a Ham Gam villager.

Khan Electricity had been charging 1,200 Kyat per 1kWh, but was gradually increasing their price due to the rising cost of petrol. There had also been long periods when the electricity supply had been cut off, leaving villagers in a blackout situation.

“We had difficulty when the electricity was cut off. We can’t charge our phones and can’t connect to people or do our jobs. Nightly blackouts have also created situations for robbery,” said a woman from Ham Gam village.

Switching to a new electricity provider requires the purchase of a new meter box. This can cost between 400,000 to 500,000 Kyat.

“If we want to make a switch and buy electricity from the SEGEP company, we’re forced to buy their electricity meter box (we can’t use the old one we have now). It isn’t okay for us,” said a villager.

On July 17, the villagers organized a protest and demanded electricity service providers companies respect the villagers. They also called on the local authorities to find a solution to the electricity problem.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News