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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Venezuela imposes energy rationing measures |
| 2009-12-24 |
| Venezuela imposed electricity rationing Tuesday, trying to avert widespread blackouts in the coming months by limiting the hours of shopping malls and requiring businesses and large housing complexes to cut back or be penalized. The unprecedented measures are aimed at keeping the Guri hydroelectric dam -- the country's largest -- from failing because of a prolonged drought as Venezuela enters the dry season, said Angel Rodriguez, the government's electricity minister. He said officials are concerned that without reductions the dam could stop feeding the power grid in the first half of January. Venezuela relies on dams for most of its electricity, exposing the nation to worsening power shortages from a drought that Rodriguez called the longest in 59 years. Parts of South America have suffered dry conditions as Pacific Ocean currents have altered weather patterns as part of the El Nino phenomenon. President Hugo Chavez has also blamed climate change, but his opponents accuse the government of failing to plan adequately or invest enough in electrical projects to meet growing demand. The rules announced Tuesday are the first ever requiring Venezuelan businesses and large residential complexes to conserve energy and setting penalty fees for those that don't meet targets. The measures published in the Official Gazette said affected businesses and apartment complexes should reduce energy use by 20 percent in comparison to the same period last year. It said they will have a month to come up with energy-saving plans and after that will be charged 20 percent extra if targets aren't met. Further 10 percent penalties will be added for each additional month they don't comply. The measures affect industrial plants that use more than 5 megawatts and businesses, housing complexes and shopping centers that use more than 2 megawatts. The government also is cracking down on lighted billboards, requiring them to use energy-efficient lights. Shopping malls can turn on the lights only from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and casinos and bingo halls have electricity from 6 p.m. to midnight. Violators could be punished with a daylong temporary shutdown, or up to three days for repeat offenders. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #4 Headline: Hugo Chavez really sucks as ruler!. |
| Posted by: notascrename 2009-12-24 21:22 |
| #3 I mean how is America responsible? |
| Posted by: Kelly 2009-12-24 11:55 |
| #2 Proof that Socialism is everything it's cracked up to be.... |
| Posted by: Warthog 2009-12-24 11:54 |
| #1 Leave it to the tinpot narcissist dictator and his ultramodern government of the people to manage to have an energy shortage in a country sitting on enough petroleum to fuel all of S America for centuries. |
| Posted by: Nimrod Finster 2009-12-24 08:33 |