Mizzima
The Ministry of Electric Power has announced the return of rigorous scheduled load-shedding across Yangon Region, effective 18 March. Under the new directive, townships across four districts are being partitioned into “Group A” and “Group B,” with electricity supplied on a rotating four-hour alternating basis.
The junta-controlled ministry stated that these measures are a “mechanical necessity” to preserve dwindling water levels at the nation’s reservoirs until the monsoon season arrives in June.
The crisis is being exacerbated by a regional heatwave. With temperatures soaring across Central Myanmar and Yangon, the daily power demand has surged to an average of 4,664 megawatts as residents increase their use of air conditioners, fans, and water pumps.
The impact of the four-hour rotation is being felt acutely in Yangon’s residential and commercial hubs, where the lack of predictable power is disrupting daily life and small businesses.
A resident of South Okkalapa Township said, “The four-hour window is never guaranteed. Group A was supposed to get power at 4:00 pm, but it didn’t come on until 6:00 pm. By the time the light is back, we are rushing to pump water and cook before the next cut. With this heat, the children can’t sleep, and the elderly are struggling.”
“When the power goes out, the elevators stop and the water pressure disappears. We are back to relying on noisy generators, but with the new fuel prices and the QR code limits at the petrol stations, running a generator has become a luxury we can’t afford every day. It feels like we are moving backward in time,” a resident of Dagon Township said.
The ministry has warned that these scheduled outages will likely persist through the end of the pre-monsoon season in June, as the government prioritizes industrial zones over residential sectors to maintain minimal economic activity.
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