Power cuts are reduced for the holidays; Mazar water level rises as power plants sit idle; Businesses ignore Noboa’s day-off decree; Generator sales surge

All Ecuadorian utility customers will enjoy reduced blackout hours during the five-day holiday weekend and some in Cuenca and Puerto Lopez will have no blackouts at all. Much of Cuenca’s historic district had full power on Thursday at the start of the Cuenca’s independence holiday that continues through Sunday.

According to the Energy Ministry, blackouts are being reduced to three to eight hours a day throughout the country, with a return to 14-hours planned for Monday, November 4.

Blackout hours are being reduced throughout the country during the Cuenca holidays and Day of the Dead observance.

The elimination of blackouts in the coastal community of Puerto Lopez, in Manabi Province, was based on a negotiation between President Daniel Noboa and local officials, the Energy Ministry said.

A Cuenca television reporter said that some parts of the city’s historic district continued to experience blackouts Thursday, despite the announced reprieve. Roberto Rodríguez complained of inconsistencies in scheduling, even in the blocks adjacent to Parque Calderon, where holiday festivities are centered.

Mazar water level rises as power plants sit idle
The three power generation plants at the Paute-Mazar hydroelectric complex have been kept out of service since October 25. “The idle time and the rain showers we’ve had in the last week have allowed the water level to rise by about five meters,” says plant engineer Jefferson Prado. “We plan to run the turbines in the coming days but only for short periods of time for maintenance purposes.”

Prado said the Mazar level stood at 2,115.8 meters above sea level Thursday afternoon, an increase from the 2,111 meters on October 25. “We have had light to moderate rain near the plants this week so this should raise the level further,” he said.

Prado added that the 14-hour blackouts have been necessary to protect the Mazar reservoir. “This is hard on people, unfortunately, but it maintains the water level which means facilities can return to service sooner as the rains increase.” He said the target level to resume full generation at Mazar is 2,125 meters.

One of the reasons the Mazar plants can remain out of service is the increase flow of the Coca River at the Coca Coda Sinclair hydro plant in Napo Province. “That area has received good rainfall recently, boosting the river flow,” says Fabián Calero, Deputy Energy Minister. “We have been able to generate more than 1,000 megawatts there for most of last week, which has allowed us to keep Mazar off line.”

Responding to criticism of unannounced changes in blackout schedules, Calero said the “flow-through” or “flow-of-the-river” technology at the Coca Coda plant is the reason. “There is no reservoir to hold the water so when there is high flow we either produce more power or let the water pass through. “It’s a ‘use it or lose it’ situation and this is why many areas of the country have seen reductions in their announced suspension schedule this week.”

Generators sales surge
The sale of gasoline-powered generators has increased more than 200% since September compared to the same period in 2023. Ecuador’s Central Bank, which reported the figures, said that a shortage of generators is declining in most parts of the country as large shipments arrive from China.

According to the bank, the average price paid for generators is about $375, although prices range from $200 to more than $1,000.

Businesses ignore Noboa’s day-off decree
Although President Daniel Noboa declared Thursday a holiday, many businesses ignored the decree. Banks, factories and professional offices, as well as retail stores around the country remained open, their managers explaining they wanted to take advantage of the reduced blackouts hours.

“We don’t have a choice but to use the energy while we have it,” says a real estate agency owner on Calle Simon Bolivar in Cuenca. “We are going into a long weekend and must continue to work to be ready for the holidays,” she said. “It has been hard to finish our work with the blackouts, even though we have power packs for the computers and lights. I can’t afford to give my people another day off.”