Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Venezuela resorts to rationing amid new blackouts

Christian Science Monitor

Venezuela resorts to rationing amid new blackouts


The government blames transmission line failures, but critics such as guest blogger Miguel Octavio point to government inefficiency. Last year Venezuelans endured blackouts for months.


By Miguel Octavio, Guest blogger / May 17, 2011


Nothing exemplifies the mismanagement of Venezuela more than the electricity crisis. Through a series of missteps and the lack of investment, Venezuela continues to be mired in an electrical crisis over a year and a half after it began. We have gone from blaming El NiƱo, to saying the problem had been solved, to now saying it is the increase in use of electricity that created the problem.

A while back I wrote this post to show the timeline of contradictions by the government, and I have actually been updating it given all that is being said. So, if you are interested in the problem, that post is dynamic, as I add news links to it. Check it out.

What is interesting is that, despite the vice president’s claim that “the growth in demand” is one of the main culprits of the electrical problem, data shows otherwise, as at least peak demand was higher in 2009 and 2010, due mostly to lower temperatures this year.

....Venezuela resorts to rationing amid new blackouts

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