JEDDAH, 2 September 2005 — The power outage, which hit more than 10 neighborhoods in Jeddah on Wednesday, paralyzed many government departments and affected private citizens. Hundreds of families left their overheating homes and drove to relatives’ houses in areas unaffected by the power cuts.

Many people across the city found themselves trapped in elevators; the Fire Department responded to frantic calls to release them. Businesses that rely on continuity of electric supply reported considerable damage to their operations.

Swift reprisals against the electricity supply company were demanded by many interviewed by Arab News.

Abdul Aziz Al-Ghamdi, father of four, was outraged by the power failure. The power cut happened at a time when his young daughter was sick with fever. He had to rent a room at Jeddah hotel to keep his family cool.

“The electricity company should be punished for the continual power outages. I paid SR450 for the room for one day. I cannot pay that for another day. If I billed the electricity company for the amount I paid, would they pay it? Of course not, then they should either provide good services or pay damages next time.”

The main thoroughfares of Jeddah were in chaos. More than 200 police units were deployed to many locations to organize traffic. Small businesses suffered the most damages according to many owners interviewed.

Salem Ali Omar, owner of a grocery store in Al-Rawdah district, said, that the outage caused him huge damage. “I have suffered enough loses. I am used to power outage in Al-Rawdah for ten to fifteen minutes, but this time it lasted more than eight hours.” Ice cream in the freezers had to be destroyed and he frantically searched for ice to keep the chicken and meat in deep freezer until the power was back on.

A group of local Jeddah residents is planning to file a lawsuit against the electricity company for the repeated power outages. They complained that the company is making huge profits but not providing good service to customers.

They say that the telephone number the electricity company provides to public to call during an emergency is useless. The No. 993 is either not manned or busy.

They demand that the company be more considerate and at least have someone pick up the phone and talk to public instead of ignoring them.

Ahmad Abdulrahman is one angry Jeddah resident who is preparing to file a lawsuit against the electricity company.

“If I was late paying my bill by one day the electricity company would not hesitate to cut power off the second I pass the deadline,” he said.

“I wish they were as good in providing a decent service. If we stated that the personal damage per hour is one thousand riyals, I swear we would not see power outages in Jeddah. In foreign countries, officials are held accountable if the power goes down once. Here it happens many times and yet they are in their positions.”

The electricity company issued a statement saying that the power outage happened due to damage to one of the main power switchgear units that is connected to the desalination plant.

A source at the power company blamed local construction companies for the situation saying they damaged power lines while carrying out construction work. He said the companies never reported to “us the damages they caused to the power lines that as a result affected our working.”