Black Out Buenos Aires

As Buenos Aires' population continues to grow, inevitably more energy is consumed. Logic, right? However, the technology of the electrical companies remain old and what I refer to as 'Stone Age'. Stone Age is good for it's time but is not adequately equipped for the exponentially greater amount of usage today. Hence, every summer, the Stone Age system is unable to bear the demands of modern times causing annual problems with power outages throughout the province as well as city of Buenos Aires.

The bigger problems arise when more energy is used; for instance, if there is a heat wave... Currently, Argentina and all of South America is going through an unbearable heat wave. Believe me when I say it's HOT. It is impossible to do anything at midday. "Blistering heat" were only words until now. Now I understand significance and deadly profoundness of such words.

Anyway, air conditioning is a must in the 100-110 F sweltering heat. Air conditioning burns electricity faster than you can say "power outage". Hence, some of the district of Buenos Aires (both city and province again) have been without power for over 10 days.

Imagine if your grandparents lived on the 11th floor of an apartment building without a functioning elevator! Or you owned a store and all your food merchandise went to waste. We think that a power outage of a few days is bad, but imagine being in a full blown heat wave in the summer for ten days without air conditioning. Not to mention the issue of every day basic needs such as food and water.

As you can imagine people are furious. The people blame the government and are protesting in the streets. The government blame the companies and are threatening to nationalize. And the companies blame the weather and people for the record high consumptions. No one is directly responsible, however in the end they are without power.

~ From Argentina with Love