Venezuela travels forward in time half an hour to help ease energy crisis
..."A severe drought is affecting the Guri reservoir that provides two-thirds of Venezuela’s power needs, and water and electricity outages are frequent.
“This extra half-hour of sunlight will allow a better electricity saving because it is at night when people return from work and schools that they turn on lights and air-conditioning,” the science minister, Jorge Arreaza, .."
..."There were jokes on social media too.
“Venezuela’s new time-zone: hours without light, hours without water, hours of presidential broadcasts, hours of lines,” quipped comedian Jean Mary Curro in reference to the South American nation’s multiple economic problems.
Opponents say Venezuela’s energy problems are no laughing matter. While Maduro blames the drought on the El Niño weather phenomenon, critics say the state is also guilty for inadequate investment, preparation and diversification of power sources to avoid over-dependence on the Guri dam.
Daily water and electricity cuts have added to hardship from a deep recession, the world’s highest inflation, long lines at shops and shortages of basics from milk to medicines. ..."
Read the rest at
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/15/venezuela-half-hour-time-change-energy-consumption
