MAKKAH: Frequent power cuts has forced residents of this holy city to look for other lighting alternatives to keep their homes lit, especially during Ramadan when power demands spike.
Demand for battery powered emergency lighting has caused prices for these items in Makkah to increase by as much as 70 percent.
“I was surprised by the sudden rise in the demand for the emergency electric lamp,” said Ali Hameed, who owns an electric and dry goods shop. “I was unable at some point to meet the demand of the customers so I had to seek help from other electric shops.”
Hameed said it was not only the tenants who buy the emergency electric lamps but also those in charge of mosques who fear that the electricity may be cut while worshippers are praying. The street vendors that linger around mosques after prayers have even reported to stocking these lights.
Residents of many districts in Makkah have repeatedly complained to the Saudi Electricity Company about blackouts, but their problems still remained unsolved. More than 20,000 residents of Al-Aziziyah district, to the east of Makkah, recently spent more than six hours in complete darkness because of a blackout.
The company regretted the frequent power cuts attributing it to an overload in the main trasmitter.
