What is the most efficient way to use electricity in hot weather?

Temperatures are rising with the onset of the hot season and electricity consumption is increasing because more people are using electrical cooling devices. Many people are concerned that supply will not meet demand, which will result in power cuts. Vientiane Times asked around for opinions on the best ways to use electricity. 

An electricity station in Phonepapao village, Sisattanak district, Vientiane.

Mr Bounsy Vongphachan, a resident of Hadxaifong district, Vientiane: The weather is very hot nowadays and I think we should all be very careful with our consumption of electricity, especially when using electronic devices. If we’re not careful, there may be shortage of electricity and if we use too much we will end up paying a lot of money. The biggest worry is that the supply of electricity is not sufficient to meet demand. This means we should use it efficiently and save on usage when we can. We should also be careful when using electronic devices because there is a risk of fire. The best thing is to unplug anything we’re not using, as this reduces the risk of a fire and also saves money.
 
Ms Sone Inthalath, a resident of Xaythany district, Vientiane: There are always problems with electricity in the hot season. Sometimes the power goes off for a while, or the supply is erratic, which can make life difficult. Many places don’t have enough electricity, so we must be careful how we use it so that we don’t cause a shortage by being wasteful. Of course, if there isn’t enough electricity, things become very inconvenient. In urban areas such as Vientiane, people need electricity all the time, so the authorities should ensure that there’s a constant supply. If there’s a problem of some kind and the power needs to be turned off, the authorities should inform people in advance and make sure any power cuts don’t last for too long. There should be a proper system of monitoring the electricity network and the amount being consumed. There should be also a good system to prevent danger due to electricity use.
 
Ms Vanpheng, a resident of Xayaboury province: There are problems with electricity in the hot season and very often the power goes off for long periods of time. It’s not good that some people don’t seem to value electricity and don’t use it wisely, so they can run into problems or, even worse, cause a fire. Electricity has disadvantages as well as advantages, so everyone should be careful. If we are economical in our usage, there might be fewer power cuts, and of course we will also save money. The authorities should advise people on sensible ways to use electricity, while power providers should ensure that sufficient electricity is always available. There should be a team that’s always on standby to solve problems when they arise. If any problems occur, the authorities should be able to deal with the situation urgently.
 
Mr Teuy, a resident of Vientiane: Electricity is essential for our daily life. We use it for many things, especially for cooking food. Now that it’s the hot season, electricity consumption is rising because we’re also using air conditioners and fans. We should use electricity beneficially and make sure that all appliances are safe. In addition, everyone should be aware of the need to prevent accidental fires that may arise because of electrical short circuits. There have been many accidents this year, and houses and other buildings and property have been burnt because of fires that were attributed to electrical faults. Importantly, adults should protect children when they are using anything electrical because they don’t understand the dangers and can easily cause an accident. To avoid problems, everyone should be aware of ways to use electricity carefully, and how not to waste electricity.

By Visith Teppalath
   (Latest Update March 16, 2022)