Kyrgyzstan Power Company Criticized for Excessive Energy Use Amid Blackouts

Kyrgyzstan's National Electric Network (NESK) has drawn public ire after photos emerged showing an apparent disregard for energy conservation within its own facilities. The images, shared on social media, depict a stairwell in the NESK building being cooled by three separate air conditioning units.

This display of excessive energy consumption comes at a particularly sensitive time, following a major blackout that affected large parts of the country. Energy providers have been urging citizens to conserve electricity, making the sight of multiple air conditioners running in an unoccupied stairwell particularly jarring.

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JSC "National Electric Network of Kyrgyzstan" accompanied the information about the mass power outage with a photo from its building.

NESK has stated that the recent widespread power outages were caused by an emergency failure of the 220-kilovolt "Kara-Balta, Main" and "Main, Shu" power lines. The company explained that system automation was triggered to disconnect loads following the line failures. However, NESK has not provided an explanation for why the stairwell was being cooled by three air conditioning units amidst these energy conservation calls and recent blackouts.

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The photo looks particularly symbolic against the backdrop of a large-scale blackout and regular calls from energy workers to conserve electricity.