When the power goes off [Archives:2006/922/Reportage]
By: Mohammed Al-Jabri
[email protected]
Since 1990, the electricity sector has witnessed a number of improvements. Over the past 15 years, the Ministry of Electricity Tender Board has approved approximately 1,500 bids to improve and maintain electric power stations. The ministry spent five billion riyals for an electricity improvement project in Sana'a governorate between 2002 and 2005. But despite all these improvements, the electric sector remains unable to cover the country's electricity deficit.
Special occasions disturbed
Many citizens complain that electricity goes off two to three times daily, which has upsetting consequences for their daily routines. In some instances, power outages put them in embarrassing situations.
In marriage festivities, people set up hundreds of outdoor electric lamps and lanterns, which make the festivities more interesting and joyful. At night, hundreds of friends and guests attend the festivities. But what is embarrassing for the groom's family is when the electricity suddenly goes out. The joy of the occasion dwindles, as people begin leaving. “It was very shocking to me when the lights went out as my wedding festivities began. I was really embarrassed, especially because my friends said the festivity was not that great,” said Adel who married two months ago.
What strikes one most is that anyone intending to erect electric lamps for a marriage festivity should first get permission and pay the Department of Electricity to avoid a power outage. But even if people follow such rules, power outages are inevitable during marriage festivities.
Similarly, power outages also occur during graduation ceremonies, where students usually organize various functions like a projector show or a musical band involving microphones. Once, a graduation ceremony was proceeding and while students were receiving their certificates, the electricity suddenly went out. Some attendees left, while others waited disappointedly. They tried phoning those in charge at the Ministry of Electricity, but the power came back on an hour later. In the moment, students were disappointed and thought the whole ceremony was not a great success.
Electricity at home
Every house needs electricity. Electrical appliances like washers, dryers and televisions do not function without power. Also, housewives have trouble doing housework. And what will happen to frozen food in the refrigerator? Without power, families face a water shortage if their water system depends on an electric pump. Housewife Umm Rami says battling electricity has become part of her life, as it goes off morning, evening and night. “If the power goes off, I have to delay most of the housework. For example, clothes remain in the washing machine dirty,” she says.
At night, students must use alternate lighting sources such as candles, oil or kerosene lamps, etc., when the lights go out. But such sources do not serve the same purpose as does electric lighting. A student will not be able to finish typing his research paper if his computer is disconnected due to a power outage. When exams approach, electricity very often goes off at night. Accordingly, students face many problems regarding their studies. Most must read by candlelight, which seriously affects their eyesight. Some students get frustrated and decide not to study at all when the power is off.
“I find it hard to read or write by the faint light of candles. I really strain my eyes as I read or do my homework. Sometimes I just wait in darkness for hours till the power comes back on. At times, I just go to bed, even if I haven't finished doing my homework,” said Ibrahim, a secondary school student.
Troubles all around
At night, when it is dark inside, it is dark outside. Walking in neighborhoods at night is difficult when electric streetlights are not working. In some public zones, one may get lost walking from alley to alley. Most surprisingly, in roads under construction, some may fall into a ditch or hit a parked tractor.
Citizens need electricity at work because almost everything involves computers or other electrical machines. Government employee Muneer remembers that a meeting was postponed because they could not provide meeting documents when the electricity went off.
University teachers experience similar problems. For one thing, they are not able to deliver lectures when microphones are not electrified.
Mahmoud Ali remembers once going to a photocopy shop to copy a document. There was no electricity at time, so he went around to other nearby shops. He knew the whole area was cut off from power, so he took a taxi and went to Hadda Street. “You know, I went to Hadda Street only to copy one single document. It took me two hours and cost me 500 riyals! If there had been power in my neighborhood, I could have copied it for only 10 riyals,” Ali said.
University students also encounter difficulties regarding their studies. University student Sameer says last year he went to a photocopy shop to copy his research paper. When he later went to collect it, the worker said he had not copied it because there was no electricity. That day was the deadline for delivering the research paper, so Sameer was deprived 20 points.
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[archive-e:922-v:14-y:2006-d:2006-02-20-p:report]
