The North Korean authorities are gradually increasing electricity supplies to ordinary citizens thanks to increased production, according to North Korea Intellectuals Solidarity (NKIS), and are looking at ways to conserve power as well.
The NKIS released a report from an inside source on the 16th, “Along with increasing the length of time they supply electricity to households, the authorities are taking measures to encourage people to save electricity.”
According to the source, a citizens’ lecture was held in Yuseon-dong, Hoiryeong, North Hamkyung Province, entitled, “Let’s step up the campaign to save electricity together.”
In the lecture, the authorities emphasized, “Since the March of Tribulation, national output of electricity has been constantly increasing. While generating electricity is important, using it effectively and appropriately is more important.”
The source reported he had heard that during the “150-Day Battle” power plants reached 140% of their planned output.
The source additionally explained, “In the past, supplies of electricity to cities were generally stopped during the harvest, but this year they are allowing it for one hour at dawn and another hour in the evening.”
The local authorities allocate 500W per household, meaning that each household can use three 8W bulbs and a color television. However, they can’t use an electric heater because such a heater requires 1Kw of electricity. If a neighborhood exceeds its allocated wattage at any time during the hour, the supply is cut off.
Therefore, the source reported, “In Kyerim-dong, the residents gathered together to discuss how to use their limited electricity.”
Finally, they decided to use it by dividing the neighborhood in half and allowing each half to use the supply for thirty minutes. This way they could guarantee never accidentally exceeding their allocation and suffering a power cut, and gave some leeway for each household to employ a heater.
“This kind of gathering is not permitted in North Korea,” the source admitted, “but they need more electricity, not only for lights and TVs but also for heaters.”
Meanwhile, he pointed out that despite the General’s decree demanding that residents’ electricity problems be solved first, the situation is still difficult.
