Reporting once again from the People's Socialist Paradise of Venezuela

[MRubio]

Still without power in our humble town. Last Thursday evening at 8PM my woman was reading instagram reports to me that Nueva Sparta (Margarita Island), Caracas, Valencia, Maracay, and Tachira were without power. I had no sooner commented that I was glad that we were hooked into a PDVSA substation on the national highwy when, bam, out it went.

We took a chance today and drove to Punta de Mata early in the AM. Along the way we started seeing lights on at some farms and ranches and the main National Guard check point had power as well. They claimed that it had come on at 4AM. Here in Punta de Mata they're claiming power came on at 3AM. Last Friday my woman made a trip here and it was mostly chaos. The problem is that there's little cash on the streets these days which means most everyone has to pay for what they buy with bank transfers, cards, etc. No power, no purchase.

BTW, very little traffic today as well. I counted a total of 24 cars on a 45 minute drive on the national highway. This place is dead.

Hopefully we'll have power today at home though I'm not counting on it.

[Ghost Dog]

1. It is said that there may have been recent lack of maintenance, but

we hear that Venezuela's power grid has been modernised in recent years and is largely controlled by computers... from generation at eg. the Guri dam and substations to distribution down to circuit breakers. The government, you'll be aware, claims these have come under cyberattack.

Does that sound feasible, or likely since substations have also gone down?

Glad you're back in contact!

[GatoGordo]

3. I read a report from a German firm that said the opposite was true

looking for the article now. (on aporrea.org)

In essence, the Chavistas had claimed that $100 billion had been spent on Corpoelec upgrades over the last few years, but this analyst said that in no way could this be true. (corruption). His assessment was far less investment.

In regards to cyber attack, according to this expert, it couldn't' happen. While automated, the grid is archaic and it isn't centrally connected in such a way where a computer generated attack could do anything. Though he did admit that BECAUSE it was so archaic, it wouldn't take the least amount of trouble for a committed entity to wipe out vast swaths of the grid.

[MRubio]

4. Having a hard time wrapping my brain around the concept of chavistas.......

.........modernizing anything in recent years.

I think Gato's thread has the answer.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/110865860#post3

[Ghost Dog]

5. But you say that everyone pays by electronic transfer!

What, via smartphones?

By recent, I think I read in the last 20 years. I have to say it wasn't a source I'd know to trust.

[MRubio]

6. Yes, via Smartphones and Paypago via the old telephones.........

.......the private banks kept up pretty-well with technology, and even those that are now government-owned via expropriation have as well. For the government, paying by telephone has been a huge relief as it's reduced their need to pay for the printing of bills that are worthless almost as soon as they're released. As I've said recently, the new currency was released last 20 August and already the 2, 5, and 10 bs notes are not accepted in most locations.

BTW, we got power back here at house about 4PM local time after a short brust of power around 2PM. Fingers crossed.

[GatoGordo]

2. Stay safe

The aunties haven't been able to get hold of the remaining Marabino relatives. Electricity is off, then on, then off. Power surges are killing the remaining electrical infrastructure (this from second hand reports).

The gas stations aren't working in Maracay after 5 days