Unscheduled Power Cuts Affect People, Businesses Across Iran

Electricity outages have increased in Iran, with citizens across several provinces reporting widespread disruptions. 

Alongside electricity cuts, water shortages have become a significant issue in some areas.

The situation is particularly severe in the cities of the Kurdistan province. 

On Sunday, numerous power outages were reported across many cities. These outages occur in a rotating pattern, with electricity being cut off in several neighborhoods during the early morning, followed by different neighborhoods in the afternoon. The disruption cycle continues late into the night. 

Typically, it takes two to three hours for power to be restored.

The outages are not limited to electricity; water supplies are also intermittently disrupted, although less frequently than power. 

These interruptions create additional challenges for residents. These have affected all segments of society, from employees and workers to homemakers and business owners.

A woman who owns a sewing workshop shared her frustration, saying, "Sewing relies on electricity, and without it, my work comes to a halt. 

"Over the past two days, the power in this neighborhood has been cut off twice daily, leaving me with backlogs and unfulfilled promises to my customers." 

She added, "Yesterday, the last outage happened at 4 PM. I had to close the workshop and go home. 

"When I arrived home, I found the power was out there too. After a short rest, the electricity was restored, but then, to my surprise, the water was cut off. 

"I checked social media and local Telegram channels, but there was no notification about the power or water cuts," she said.

In previous years, the electricity management of Kurdistan Province announced scheduled power outages in advance and informed the cities. 

However, this year, there have been no such announcements, and no explanations have been provided.

Local electricity departments deny involvement in the outages, claiming that there are no planned power cuts and that power is automatically shut off when consumption spikes. 

The explanation seems disconnected from reality, especially given the cooler weather and the lack of peak consumption during some outages.

A young man in Kurdistan bazar said, "The weather is hot, and we have very few customers during the day. 

"Since nightlife is not common here, I have to close the shop after dark. Yesterday, just before closing, the electricity went out, and I had to sit in front of the shop for two hours waiting for the power to come back so I could lower the shutter. Not a single customer entered the shop during those two hours."

The power outages are also not limited to residential areas. Since the beginning of summer, industrial towns and zones have also been experiencing blackouts, though these are scheduled and occur for 24 hours only one day a week.