Energy Ministry reviews power blackout schedules following heavy weekend rains

Ecuador’s Energy Ministry said Sunday afternoon it is evaluating electricity blackout schedules for the period of September 30 to October 6 following heavy weekend rain that fell over much of the country, including the Cuenca area. Most local utility companies had posted schedules on Friday but these could change based on the ministry’s decision.

Cuenca’s Tomebamba River briefly overflowed its banks during Sunday afternoon’s rainstorm before returning to its normal flow rate.

The ministry announced a one-day blackout reduction Sunday following Saturday rains but, due to short notice, local utility companies did not post revised schedules. In Cuenca, most Centrosur customers had no blackouts until 8 p.m. Sunday.

The ministry said Saturday that rains in the northern intermountain valley allowed an increase in electric generation at the Coca Coda Sinclair plant on the Coca River, from about 30% capacity to more than 60%. It also said generation at the Agoyán hydro plant near Baños de Agua Santa increased.

Sunday’s rains were much stronger, falling over the entire intermountain valley as well as in the eastern Amazon region, and should boost the water level of the Mazar reservoir that powers three hydroelectric plants east of Cuenca.

In Cuenca, the heaviest rainfall in six months briefly overflowed the Tomebamba and Yanuncay riverbanks, flooded roads, stalled the tram and sent emergency crews on at least 10 rescue calls. Four municipal weather stations recorded rainfall amounts from 23 to 32 millimeters (1.25 inches) while the rain gauge at Cajas National Park collected 38 millimeters (1.5 inches).

By 7 Sunday night, the ETAPA meteorological reported that all four city rivers had returned to normal flow rates after briefly reaching flood stage. Following the rain, an ETAPA spokesman said 10 to 15 storms of similar intensity are needed to end the drought in southern Ecuador. He added that weekend rains “probably added several meters of water” to the Mazar reservoir, allowing an increase in power generation.

The national weather service is forecasting rain for most of the country through Tuesday.