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BLACKOUTS!

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cccmedia

The Ecuadorian government has announced it will

impose electricity blackouts of 14 hours a day nationwide

starting immediately.


This is a major reversal of El Presidente's recent statement

that blackouts would be reduced over the coming weeks

and has wide-ranging implications for Expats, locals,

Ecuadorian businesses, schools and Wi Fi access.


The impacts are so great they cannot adequately be

documented on this thread .. and affect multiple

South American countries, likely for months,


Presidente Naboa says help is on the way in terms of

adding electrical plants .. by mid 2025.


One question... where can snowbirds, Expats and others

with the means .. re-locate to temporarily while electricity

is a scarce commodity here in Ecuador and other

South American venues?


cccmedia in Quito


is following this matter in

greater detail.

Fred

Are there possibilities to mitigate the situation for individual homes/offices using off grid solar/wind/water?

I built a 100W mini-solar station with a single lead/acid battery as a test unit. The performance was really very good - enough to run LED lighting, power/charge USB C laptops, and charge phones.

It outputted 12 volts DC so car accessories can be used.

I added a small inverter that could power 240 volt equipment but that was limited with a peak 100 watts to play with..

Importantly, these are very easy to wire up so most people will be able to get one running in an hour.


Even easier are portable power stations that can be charged using solar. However, these are only good enough for light use. 


Wind isn't much of a thing here but, if it is in your corner of the world, mini-turbines that would be suitable for home use are available.

mugteck

           This is certainly bad news, adds to an AP story I read this weekend about the large exodus from Ecuador as of late.  People from Ecuador were the 4th largest group of migrants attempting to cross into the USA, several hundred thousand fleeing a country of 18 million.

           Wondering how this is affecting expats and the life there.  14 hours of blackout seems quite severe every day.  In the Philippines I have experienced 8 hour blackouts a few times a month, is 9 AM to 5 PM usually and just local.

             I cannot imagine that the expats involved can afford to supply their own power, a few do it in the Philippines but there is a good amount to pay up front.

lorriecueva09

My relatives by marriage live in Quito. They want out   Property is not selling well she says. No buyers for her condo. If you can rig solar,I think the people are so friendly. The culture is so warm. They kiss two times as a greeting. Viva Ecuador   The power comes from a dam and they’re in a drought now. Rain brings back the electricity. They could use help with diversification of the power grid.   Quito is 9350 feet. The air is very thin.


I had a home birth there! If you find the right doctor, it’s amazing

denisekygrl

Wonder why the government won't invest in solar power? I don't know much about it but think it would be a great alternative to hydro.

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