Energy

Electricity might be rationed

The record demand recorded for electricity last Monday has put the country's energy authorities on alert.

The secretario de Energía, Dani Kuzniecky, acknowledged that he is deeply worried that if the current level of energy use persists, demand would exceed supply.

"For now we have enough capacity available. . . but if we do not take precautions, we will be forced to ration supplies," the energy secretary remarked.

Kuzniecky is also the ministro de Asuntos del Canal.

The official emphasized how important it is for the general public to become aware of the necessity of saving energy.

"To the extent that we make a proper use of energy, the reserves will hold out," the ministro noted.

However, Kuzniecky commented, the country is entering the most difficult period of summer and is consuming a lot of energy.

During the summer dry season, river levels decrease and so does the generation capacity of hyrdropower.

According to data from the Centro Nacional de Despacho de Etesa, the maximum demand in April could reach 1,087 megawatts.

On Monday, demand reached 1,050 megawatts, only seven days after the 2007 record of 1,038 megawatts was broken.

"These are the first signs of alarm. If this demand keeps up, and it doesn't rain, we will find ourselves in a delicate situation," Kuzniecky warned. He also cautioned that energy is not an unlimited resource.

Energy experts recommend limiting the use of air conditioning and other electrical appliances.

There was a blackout for nearly an hour and a half yesterday morning, which affected the cities of Panama and Colón, but Kuzniecky said that had nothing to do with his current concern about the possibility of having to ration electricity because of excessive demand.

The Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica (Etesa) reported that the blackout was due to a transformer problem in a substation in Panama City.