Expect longer blackouts in Yangon, Myanmar until June 20

A man works on power cables in Yangon. The Yangon Electricity Suppy Corporation says longer power cuts will be in effect in townships in Yangon through June 20. Aung Khant/The Myanmar Times. Sketched by the Pan Pacific Agency.

YANGON, Jun 13, 2019, Myanmar Times. Members of the public are expressing anger with the Yangon Electricity Supply Corporation (YESC) for announcing longer power cuts in the city, reported the Myanmar Times.

The YESC said in a statement on Wednesday that it will lengthen the duration of daily power cuts from two hours to six hours in every township in four districts. The longer blackouts were to take effect Wednesday.

Yangon residents interviewed by The Myanmar Times said they were disappointed with the power company’s announcement as they are already experiencing frequent power outages even outside the timetable the YESC had in place.

“The power company told us just three days ago that they would cut power only for two hours once every couple of days. Now they are saying the outages will be even longer. I am really upset because I have so many orders for clothes to finish this week,” Ma Myat Yadanar, a designer and owner of a tailor shop in Mayangone township.

According to the YESC statement, the longer blackouts will be in effect until June 20.

The YESC introduced a rotation system of electricity cut-offs starting at the end of April to deal with the increased power consumption during the hot season.

Under the plan, townships were placed in five groups and power was cut on a rotational basis two or three times a day for every group, with the blackouts lasting two hours at a time.

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