Venezuela Cuts Government Work Week to Ration Power

Venezuela is cutting public office hours in half to ration electricity as high temperatures affect dams feeding hydropower plants, a move that threatens to further slow the nation’s economy amid threats of additional US sanctions.

The decision effects federal and state ministries nationwide until the end of April, the government announced March 23, citing a “climate event” that is impacting water levels of dams in the Andean region. Institutions providing “essential” services will be exempted. It was not clear if Caracas would face power rationing.