Power distribution system supplying Greater Caracas worsens: power grid wiring needs to be changed urgently

On Saturday, social networks were filled with messages about the interruption - albeit brief - of electricity at the La Rinconada baseball stadium in Caracas, venue of the Caribbean Series.

But power outages occurred frequently - up to six per day - throughout that week in several localities of the capital, assured sources in the sector who requested to keep their names confidential.

"The energy distribution system that supplies Greater Caracas is in very bad condition and far from improving, the situation is tending to get worse", said one of those consulted.

The explanation & he added- is the lack of maintenance since 2008 when the company Electricidad de Caracas was nationalized.

The sources recalled that while it was in private hands, the electric service in the capital was efficient, since the motto was to simultaneously sell electricity and quality of life to the population.

However, the State's neglect of the Caracas electric system led to the collapse of the distribution network, which is evidenced by the constant and prolonged failures and interruptions of service.

"The distribution network in Caracas is subway and urgently requires the replacement of the cables, whose useful life of 20 years has already been more than fulfilled, aggravated by the lack of maintenance", said one of those consulted.

He specified that the replacement of the obsolete and deteriorated cables with new and more modern ones, means an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars due to the fact that it includes civil works of breaking streets and sidewalks, since the cables are underground.

Likewise, equipment such as transformers and cables of almost all the tanquillas need this major maintenance.

The sources pointed out that for years and prior to nationalization, Electricidad de Caracas had a modern distribution system in optimal operating conditions as a result of permanent predictive, preventive and corrective maintenance programs.

"The work of bailing out and replacement of cables and equipment in the tanquillas was carried out in a timely manner," said one of the people consulted.

The sources revealed that at present and in spite of the fact that the number of residential customers has not grown due to the diaspora, the demand for electricity in Caracas cannot be satisfied in an efficient and reliable manner.

The year-on-year energy consumption in Greater Caracas - historically 2,000 megawatts - increases only 2% due to shopping malls and a greater installation of air conditioners.

"The consumption of the industrial sector in Greater Caracas continues to stagnate due to the closure or decrease of activities in factories", said a consultant.