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Lack of rain causes electric and farming problems in Peru region

Living in Peru
Israel Ruiz

Extreme weather conditions such as too much rain to too little have affected thousands of people across Peru. Citizens have experienced everything from blocked roads to deadly landslides.

In the southern part of the country farmers are worried because there has been too little rain. It has been estimated that this year's harvest in the city of Arequipa could drop 35 percent.

Experts say that if stored water supplies are not enough to save crops, March's harvest could only be 65 percent of what it was expected to be.

This lack of water has also affected Arequipa's generation of electricity.

El Comercio daily reported that the city's demand is currently at 220MW, explaining there were times when there was a negative 20MW differential.

Adolfo de Córdova, the head of EGASA power company in Arequipa sated that hydroelectric plants were only producing 30 percent of what was expected because of a lack of rainfall.

Authorities have stated that one solution could be to reduce consumption. Plans to distribute energy-saver light bulbs were announced.

It was reported that the government would distribute these bulbs among the D and E classes, explaining they were the groups of citizens that consumed the majority of electricity in the city.

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# Martin says :
20 February, 2009 [ 18:19 ]

What a sad state of affairs!

Now the government will provide free light bulbs that consume less watts to the poorer folks who can not afford to buy such low wattage consumption bulbs. I suggest a program that encourages smaller families so that the consumption of everything will be decreased and then there will more to go around per person. 

Anyone that thinks that the Earth's resources is sufficient to provide a
"decent" standard living to the world's ever increasing population is like the ostrich with it's head in the sand.


Another topic - does anyone know when "placas" that end with the number 4 are scheduled for "revisiones tecnicas"?

# Splaktar says :
21 February, 2009 [ 10:30 ]

That's too bad.  I don't think that light bulbs will make that big of a difference though.  They need to start looking at more sources of power like solar.  It is sunny almost every day in Arequipa, there is no reason that solar power should only be used for heating your bath water.

The government needs to encourage companies to sell batteries and solar power systems that can be used to power an entire house.  They also need to look into constructing solar power plants in these mountains.

# Martin says :
21 February, 2009 [ 15:30 ]

Splakar - I agree with you 100%, but who is going to pay for your kind of electricity generation for the poor. I doubt the poor have the money to buy batteries and solar panels.

I should have mentioned that I think the poor folks receiving the low watt consuming bulbs will probably sell them, buy the kind they have always used, and pocket their "profit" to use for the life style they are used to.

# Splaktar says :
21 February, 2009 [ 20:14 ]

From what I understood, the lights are only being given to the biggest energy consumers.  This is not the poor people.  They consume a minimum of energy.  These bulbs would be given to factories, bus stations, airports, etc that need to have light on 24x7.  But that assumes some kind of common sense, which we all know is in short supply in Peru.

If the middle class and more wealthy people could use more solar power it would take a lot of strain off of the power grid.  This would leave the poor people to use this without having to fear blackouts and shortages.  Investing in a full house solar package is expensive, but it pays off over time for those who can afford the initial expenses.

# Martin says :
22 February, 2009 [ 19:28 ]

Unless I am mistaken, which is always possible, the bulbs are going to the classes D & E which I thought is at the bottom of the economic ladder. 

# Aras says :
22 February, 2009 [ 20:05 ]

Solar Power, Wind Power even cheaper

# Splaktar says :
22 February, 2009 [ 21:57 ]

"It was reported that the government would distribute these bulbs among the D and E classes, explaining they were the groups of citizens that consumed the majority of electricity in the city"

# Martin says :
23 February, 2009 [ 12:24 ]

Splaktar - perhaps it simply means that Arequipa has a very high percentage of poor folks = classes D & E or that only the residential part of the population was included in the survey.
Or that like many articles, we are given mixed messages.

You appear to try to be well informed so do you know when 'placas' ending in # 4 are supposed to go to 'revisiones tecnicas'.

# Splaktar says :
23 February, 2009 [ 12:28 ]

I don't know.  I think, but am not sure, that those plates may have already been done as they are on 0 last I checked.  You can call Lidercon to ask.  I imagine that trying to get that info from a gov't office would be a major hassle.  The best place to go for into may be a taxi or combi driver sad as that may be, it is reality.

# Martin says :
23 February, 2009 [ 12:45 ]

Splaktar - thanks for your input. All the information for 'revisiones tecnicas' is on the Lidercon website. # 4 = June.

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