Panama News

By O. Arcia y S. Cumbrera Panama America - Residents of the Altos de Curundu protested yesterday over a lack of electricity. Victor Urrutia, head of the Public Services Authority (ASEP) said this will be one of the rationing measures that will be taken starting on Thursday in case policies being implemented to save electrical energy do not work. Data of the Nation's Comptroller reveal that 500,000 homes represent 31% of the energy demand of the country. Urrutia explained that with the recently implemented policies preventing the use of lighted signs, and by changing the work schedules for public employees to 7:00 am to 1:00 pm does not result in a total saving of at least 150 megavolts, then they will have to begin rationing electricity to residences. He stressed that the present energy situation is "grave" due to the actions of consumers and the lack of rains that are not helping to stabilize water levels in the Fortuna and Bayano lakes. (more)
Editor's Comment: Here's what's going on. La Niña (that bitch) continues to hang on in the Pacific ocean. To make a whole lot of long and boring science really short and sweet:

• "A transition from La Niña to ENSO-neutral conditions is possible during June- July 2008."
• "La Niña continued to weaken during April 2008, as reflected by changes in sea surface temperatures (SSTs) across the equatorial Pacific Ocean."
• A majority of the recent dynamical and statistical SST forecasts for the Niño 3.4 region indicate La Niña will persist through May-June-July 2008.""Expected La Niña impacts during May-July 2008 include a continuation of above-average precipitation over Indonesia and below-average precipitation over the central equatorial Pacific." (That's where we are.)

Half Hydro Power: In Panama, about half of the electrical power comes from hydro sources. This energy crisis is being caused by the persisting La Niña conditions in the Pacific ocean, which results in lower than normal levels of rainfall in Panama. No water behind the dams means no power supplies for your air conditioner. If it does not start raining soon, then the government is going to start implementing a rationing plan, cutting power to different parts of the city (or country) for two hours at a time.
Short Work Schedule: The government is doing something - they have issued an executive decree which goes into effect on Tuesday, 20 May 2008, changing the work schedule to 7:00 am to 1:00 pm, in an effort to turn off all of those governmental air conditioners during the hottest hours of the day. But if those efforts don't have a significant impact quickly, then the power producers won't have any choice - there is simply no way to meet the demand. Off go the lights.
Well, That Sucks: Most people are completely asleep on this issue in Panama. If you are fast enough, you might be able to snatch up a generator if you really need one for some reason, because as soon as the first rationing kicks in you can forget about it (they will be sold.) Expect a certain degree of panic and confusion when the general population starts to wake-up. Notice that this article in the Panama America is not talking about La Niña. Just relax, watch the skies, and be happy that you know what's going on before it happens. Once the rain starts then this "crisis" will go away, at least for awhile. Panama still has to significantly expand their generation capacity. Maybe it would be better to say "if" the rain starts. If La Niña is a bitch, then what does that make Mother Nature?
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Dani Kuzniecky, Energy Secretary, said if necessary, the measure of rationing electrical energy to residences will be temporary and that the length will depend on the reduction of the levels of demand as well as the intensity of rains.


Pedro Acosta, of the National Consumer's Union, said that if the government decides to implement his plan of rolling energy rationing then they should warn consumers ahead of time because many families have electric appliances and devices that could suffer damages.


He added that it will be important to know if in the light bill there will be a discount for the two hours the house was not receiving electrical power.


If the Executive Decree which modifies the work schedule for public employees goes into effect on Tuesday as written, the government will be paying for two hours of work not completed.


The government pays approximately $354,000 for every hour of work, suggesting that these two hours lost every day will cost $708,000 dollars.


A group of residents from the Altos of Curundu blocked Ave. La Amistad yesterday for 25 minutes after remaining without electricity for more than 30 hours.


The demonstrators protested that the company Unión Fenosa restored service to them, but due to the lack of electrical power they lost products like meat and milk.


Although the electrical company did not issue any official notice, a police officer in the area said the damage was caused by a break in some cables near the produce market.


The residents said that if the problem was not fixed quickly they would return to continue their protest.


MEDIDA. Dependerá de la reducción de los niveles de demanda y la intensidad de las lluvias


Apagones podrían afectar a 500 mil viviendas en el país


La crisis energética por la que atraviesa el país obligaría a que las autoridades ordenaran, la próxima semana, cortes eléctricos programados en varios sectores del país, por un espacio de casi dos horas.


O. Arcia y S. CumbreraPA-DIGITAL


Malestar. Residentes de Altos de Curundu protestaron ayer por falta de energía.Víctor Urrutia, jefe de la Autoridad de los Servicios Públicos (ASEP), manifestó que esa será una de las medidas de racionamiento que utilizarán a partir del jueves, en caso que las políticas de ahorro no funcionen.


Datos de la Contraloría revelan que los 500 mil hogares representan el 31% de la demanda energética en el país.


Urrutia explicó que si con impedir el uso de los letreros luminosos y disminuir el horario de los funcionarios de 7:00 a.m. a 1:00 p.m. no se reporta un ahorro de 150 megavatios, tendrán que cortar el suministro parcialmente a las residencias.


Recalcó que la situación energética actual es "grave", por el comportamiento del consumo y la escasez de lluvia que no ayudan a estabilizar los lagos Fortuna y Bayano.


Por su parte, Dani Kuzniecky, secretario de Energía del Estado, sostuvo que de darse la medida de cortar el suministro en las viviendas será temporal y que la misma dependerá de la reducción de los niveles de demanda y la intensidad de las lluvias.


Reacciones.


Pedro Acosta, de la Unión Nacional de Consumidores, advirtió que si el Gobierno opta por estos apagones debe avisar con anticipación, ya que muchas familias tienen electrodomésticos y otros artefactos que podrían sufrir daños.


Resaltó que sería importante saber si en el recibo de luz se descontará estas dos horas para las viviendas que no tendrán electricidad.


No pagarán por horas no laborables.


Si el Decreto Ejecutivo que modifica el horario de los servidores públicos entra en vigencia a partir del martes, el Gobierno central pagará por dos horas que no se laborarán.


El Gobierno Central paga cerca de B/ 354 mil por cada hora, lo que sugiere que estas dos horas por día que no laborarán los funcionarios costarán unos B/ 708 mil.


Protesta.


Precisamente ayer un grupo de residentes de Altos de Curundu bloqueó por 25 minutos la avenida La Amistad, tras permanecer sin el servicio de energía eléctrica por más de 30 horas.


Los manifestantes reclamaban que la empresa Unión Fenosa les restableciera el servicio, ya que perdieron algunos productos como carne y leche debido al apagón.


Aunque la empresa eléctrica no emitió ningún comunicado, un agente de la Policía Nacional que acudió rápidamente al lugar informó que el daño fue provocado por la ruptura de unos cables en las cercanías del Mercado de Abasto.


Los residentes advirtieron que si en las próximas horas el problema no es solucionado volverán a protestar.

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