Venezuelan Government Reduces Public Sector Operating Hours as Part of Electricity Rationing Plan
From the Heat and Drought to Darkness: Six Weeks of Shorter Workdays in Venezuela
March 25, 2025 — our website
Sweat trickles down your brow as you, like every other citizen of Venezuela, huddle in the sweltering heat, bracing for another day without electricity. Caracas calls for a collective response to a climate emergency that's crippling the country.
The Nicolás Maduro administration has crafted a six-week plan to slash electrical consumption across state institutions, aiming to lighten the load on the grid, battling severe drought in the region's hydroelectric dams.
They're asking everyone to jump into action to combat the crisis. "We're all in this together," a statement from the Electricity Ministry on Sunday announced, "addressing this challenge demands unity and cooperation."
Starting on March 24, public sector entities are operating under a "1×1" regime, alternating working and non-working days for six weeks. They're shortening work hours too, now stretching from 8 am to 12:30 pm.
State institutions providing "essential services" have been granted exemptions from the temporary schedule but remain tight-lipped on the precise exceptions. The Ministry of Education has clarified that public schools are exempt from the revised operating schedule, with only administrative personnel affected, as schools continue functioning normally.
The Bank of Venezuela, the country's largest bank, will maintain its opening hours for the public but only until noon each day. Other state-owned businesses have declined to comment on their measures to combat the energy emergency.
As the thermometer surges, Maduro's government is urging the populace to pitch in. Lower the AC temperature, unplug devices not in use, conserve electricity—every little bit counts.
In the past, Venezuela has resorted to rationing electricity to navigate climate-induced crises or grid failures. Though targeting the public sector, the Maduro administration's latest efforts offer limited relief, as centralized air conditioning systems and increased domestic consumption offset temporary savings.
Power outages affecting western states for up to eight hours each day have been disturbing ordinary citizens for weeks. Social media abounds with tales of frustration over unpredictable power blackouts and the lack of official communication.
Venezuela's reliance on the 10,000 MW-capacity Simón Bolívar Hydroelectric Plant, or the Guri dam, has left far-flung regions vulnerable. Industry analysts point to the crumbling transmission infrastructure, with recurring outages in Western regions, as further evidence of potential systemic issues.
In 2019, Venezuela experienced a prolonged days-long blackout. Just last year, the country was plunged into darkness for around 12 hours in August 2024. Maduro's government has routinely dismissed such outages as conduits for sabotage from extremist adversaries.
Venezuelan electricity company CORPOELEC has managed to steer clear of widespread outages by employing selective rationing measures, shielding Caracas and central areas from power cuts.
Chronic electricity crises sparked plans by the Hugo Chávez administration to expand energy sources nationwide, including hydroelectric plants for the country's west. However, ongoing economic and corruption hurdles stalled progress on major projects, while US sanctions got in the way of vital equipment servicing and spare part imports.
Amid the electricity crisis, Venezuela revitalized the General José Antonio Páez Hydroelectric Complex in Barinas state, vowing to beef up the electricity supply to western Venezuelan states. The plant was projected to provide 120 MW before being upgraded to 240 MW, yet as of December 2024, it was reportedly generating just 60 MW.
Edited by José Luis Granados Ceja in Mexico City, Mexico.
To conserve energy and ward off blackouts, the Maduro administration has resorted to reducing work hours in the public sector. This move, while limiting productivity, may temper demand and encourage more efficient energy use during operational hours.
- The government of Venezuela, under President Nicolas Maduro, has devised a six-week plan to cut electricity consumption within state institutions, aiming to alleviate pressure on the power grid due to severe drought affecting hydroelectric dams in the region.
- The plan includes implementing a "1×1" schedule where public sector entities alternate working and non-working days for six weeks, shortening work hours from their usual span to 8 am to 12:30 pm.
- Exemptions have been granted to state entities offering essential services, but the specific entities exempted remain undisclosed.
- The Bank of Venezuela, the country's largest bank, will maintain regular business hours until noon each day during this period.
- The crucial field of environmental science, specifically focusing on climate-change policies and legislation, could potentially analyze the effects of the temporary work schedule adjustments on energy consumption levels.
- The energy industry, as well as the policymakers and legislators responsible for policy-and-legislation, may study the potential economic and environmental implications of the shortened work hours solution in Venezuela.
- The ongoing electricity crisis and shortened work hours in the public sector could have implications for the financial industry, as reduced productivity might impact the overall economic health of the country.
