Venezuela: widespread blackouts could be new normal, experts warn

The Guardian ^ | 23 July 2019 | Joe Parkin Daniels

[Steely Tom]

Widespread electricity outages could become the new normal in Venezuela, experts have warned, as the country struggled to restore power after a massive blackout that left millions without power or access to the internet. Blackouts plunge Venezuela into chaos as minister blames saboteurs

Energy minister Freddy Brito said on Tuesday morning that power had been restored in Caracas and at least five states after the outage which the government blamed on an “electromagnetic attack” at hydroelectric dams in the south of the country. Around 80% of Venezuela’s grid is served by hydropower.

But energy analysts were deeply suspicious of government claims, arguing instead that years of corruption and mismanagement have eroded Venezuela’s energy capacity.

“This blackout is the result of negligent mis-operation of the power grid,” said José Aguilar, a Venezuelan energy and risk consultant based in the US. “These will keep happening and it will get worse before it gets better.”

[Red Badger]

Coming soon to a New York near you!...................

[ConservativeMind]

Sounds like California, with power cuts, instead.

[House Atreides]

Years of lack of COMPETENT maintenance and ENTROPY will have its way — things will fall apart.

Ain’t Socialism grand?

[ClearCase_guy]

It’s “Atlas Shrugged”.

[DownInFlames]

Can you imagine 60-90 million in the north east without power? Talk about a disaster waiting to happen.

[Publius]

The plane was above the peaks of the skyscrapers when suddenly, with the abruptness of a shudder, as if the ground had parted to engulf it, the city disappeared from he face of the earth. It took them a moment to realize that the panic had reached the power stations -- and that the lights of New York had gone out.

Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part III ("A is A"), Chapter X ("In the Name of the Best Within Us"), p. 1158

[Billthedrill]

They might have recovered from their self-inflicted oil industry catastrophe if they hadn't destroyed their hydro industry at the same time. Now even the Russians are giving up. The Party has sucked the country dry and is now waiting for somebody from the outside to sustain it. Since the list of entities who might be able to do that is peppered with entities they've already ripped off, that might prove to be a long wait.

[varyouga]

Already been happening in Manhattan and Brooklyn this summer

[Zathras]

Now that they have deactivated Diablo Canyon and San Onofre...it is coming soon.

[shanover]

Socialism destroyed that country in a very short amount of time. It’s no different than states like California,NY and NJ that are now failed states.

[Red Badger]

Can you imagine 60-90 million in the north east without power?

Yes, I can. They would be screaming for nuclear power..........................

[DPMD]

Isn’t that interesting; the governor of California has pretty much promised the very same thing. But will the Statehouse or the CA King’s mansion go dark, you ask?

[Pollard]

They’re in a New York state of mind

[BenLurkin]

bttt

[SaxxonWoods]

Yeah, but it’s free at least.

[TnTnTn]

And that’s a good thing.....that’s what the populace voted for and they are getting greener....now don’t eat the forest leaves...

[TalBlack]

Venezuela? Ha! Has anyone stated a cause for the two blackouts in NYC?

[Gritty]

Well, at least if there isn't any electricity, it will be free. Ain't Socialism grand?

[bert]

Venezuela had this problem before too.

My mind says it was a turbine problem that shut down everything and then it clicks over to a switch yard problem. Can’t remember which.

Then ther is the nagging memory of needing to bring in outside assistance but not having the money to pay. And then the thought of Russians coming in to patch it up.

I wonder if the Russians that come bring their own tools?