Industrial zones limited to four hours of daily electricity supply

Industrial zones in Myanmar will now receive electricity for only four hours a day, starting from October 31, following a similar schedule initially set in September. Although power was supplied at normal rates after September, the four-hour restriction has been reinstated.

"In the past, it was set to four hours. And when the power is restored, it is given regularly. Now it’s back to four hours per day," said an official from the Yangon Electricity Supply Corporation.

From September 28, residential areas in Yangon Region have also faced rotating electricity schedules, with industrial zones scheduled to receive power between 9 am and 5 pm. Residents in areas like Thaketa Township report intermittent power supply even within their allotted hours, citing outages and reduced load capacity.

Currently, industrial zones are given four hours a day, and residential areas are provided with a rotating system, but there is a reduction in the load when the lights are supposed to come , so there are power outages.

“I don't get the full electricity every four hours. There are power outages during these hours," said a resident of Yanking Township.

In response to rising energy costs, the Ministry of Electric Power announced new rate increases effective September 1. For household usage, rates now range from 50 to 300 kyats per unit, depending on consumption. Commercial users, including industries and government offices, face charges up to 500 kyats per unit for higher consumption. The changes reflect decisions made during a Union Cabinet meeting on July 5, 2024.