Prolonged and frequent power cuts return after rainy season

November 9, 2022

HURFOM: Mon State had a relatively sufficient supply of electrical power during the four months of the rainy season, due to increased production levels from hydropower plants. However, now that the rainy season has ended, prolonged and frequent power cuts have become commonplace again.

This situation has led owners of small and medium enterprises (SME) businesses, private clinics and factories to buy their own power generators.

“As the power cuts are too long, we can’t just wait until the power comes back on. If we rely on electricity provided by the State, we’ll die of starvation. Even though the price of petrol is high, we have to run our generator. It’s inevitable,” said a welding shop owner from Mudon Town.

Business owners are now facing additional expenses for power generators and petrol during the economic crisis. These additional costs are hurting their businesses.

“Our clinic has had to rely on our own power generator for a long time. We have to spend too much money on petrol every month. So we have to add the cost of the generator and petrol onto the bills for treatment as a new cost. Now the patients have to pay more money,” said a shareholder from a private clinic from Mawlamyine.

An official from the Department of Electricity Distribution claimed that prolonged and frequent power cuts had happened because the State is unable to provide sufficient electricity.

“It’s due to insufficient production of electrical power. That’s why we have to cut power in various places. The power cut problem can’t be solved in a short time. It takes time,” said the official.

Even though there has been prolonged and frequent power cuts across the Mon State and the whole Burma, officials from the military junta claim they will provide Ye residents with State-sponsored electricity.

To date residents of Ye Township rely on expensive electricity provided by private companies.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News