LUSAKA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Zambia's power utility on Friday announced that it was increasing the hours for power rationing due to continued decrease of water levels in the country's hydro power plants.
Zesco Limited has been conducting a power rationing system since June this year due to a power deficit caused by low water levels caused by poor rains.
The firm said it has increased the hours for power cut from six to eight hours for all industrial and commercial customers.
"This measure is meant to prevent draining of our water reservoirs leading to shutdown of major generation plant," the power utility said in a notice to its customers.
According to the notice, a continued decline in water levels has resulted in the country experiencing a power deficit of about 700 megawatts from the initial 273 megawatts recorded in June.
It further said out of six generators at the main power plant which produces 1080 megawatts of electricity, only three generators are operating with a target average generation of 352 megawatts.
The power utility is currently making arrangements to start importing additional electricity from South Africa and Mozambique to cushion the power deficit. Enditem
