Minbya, Arakan state: Minbya residents are continuing to face difficulties from supply shortages and rising costs of electricity. The problem is caused by the old diesel-generators that generate most of the electricity in the region.
“There are four generators supplying electricity to our town. The one in Ward 3 is the worst. It's attached to an ice factory located in Zayhaung Ward. There was no electricity for a month after the ice-factory closed when a ammonia cylinder blew up,” said a Minbya resident, who didn't want to be named.
The woman said her household electronics; electric bulbs, tubes and televisions, have been damaged from voltage irregularities.
Businesses, who depend on electricity, have suffered from financial losses caused by power shortages.
But some locals say the ice-factories have been given priority over the electricity that is available while everyone else is left in the dark.
Despite the power irregularities, residents are still charged the full amount, and charged an additional 2000 Kyat for cost associated to meter-boxes and re-connection fees.
Residents are fed up with the situation that has been going on for too long. The government hasn't taken any action to resolve the situation.
