Caracas activated a special plan for work schedules and strict measures for electrical oversight in order to mitigate environmental impact and ensure the stability of the National Electric System (SEN) upon the arrival of the climatic phenomenon El Niño.The measure was announced by the mayor of Caracas, Carmen Meléndez, during her radio program Habla Caracas on Friday, August 7. She stated, “We are preparing for what could be the Super Niño phenomenon. We are going to save [energy] from our homes.”In this regard, she stated that a new work schedule will be implemented, including alternating day shifts and time limits until 12:30 p.m.She highlighted that the national government instructed that this contingency work scheme temporarily exclude essential public service sectors and Venezuela Reborn projects for post-earthquake recovery, which will operate at 100% capacity.Meléndez called on private sector companies and shopping centers to comply with load self-generation, “with the instruction given to use self-generation with electricity generation plants in shopping centers, in companies that have high electricity demand.”“The Integral Defense Operational Zone (ZODI) is ready, along with the Citizen Security agencies that are deployed, to comply with these schedules, which have been implemented at the national government level,” she declared. She added that the energy saved in Caracas will be redirected to the states in the country’s interior, which are currently under load management.Venezuela Advances Electricity Recovery While US ‘Inspects’ Guri DamMeléndez also announced the Fire Prevention Plan in response to the forecast of droughts from August to October: “The Mayor’s Office is activating its pruning and preventive maintenance brigades with the support of the Bolivarian Militia to carry out clearing and pruning work around the perimeters of the power transmission lines to prevent short circuits and forest fires caused by high temperatures.”The mayor urged the population to implement residential electricity saving practices, such as regulating the use of “air conditioners, turning off unnecessary lights, and unplugging mobile phone chargers, which represent a constant residual consumption if left plugged into outlets.” (Diario VEA)Translation: Orinoco TribuneOT/SC/SF