Too hot to trot

The severity of the suddenly prominent electric power shortage is hitting home as large swathes of Addis are blacked out for at least twice a week for 12 hours.
The public is befuddled by both the rapid loss of power supply and the extent of the shortfall, which has been estimated to be at least 40% in Addis Ababa.
Apparently the crisis does not emanate from technical issues, grid expansion or other routine and temporary problems but mainly from two factors, one being ever rising demand (surely a positive thing) and the reduced levels of water in the hydroelectric dams, due to the failure of the 'Belg' rains.
However, the public was not told of this very natural state of things but given various excuses. EEPCo did not want to admit that it has or will ever implement power rationing when reality can hardly be hidden (… or can it, given the darkness!?).
Be that as it may, EEPCo must realize that it shouldn't be so defensive. Power rationing is a fact of life even in Africa's richest and largest cities - Lagos, Cairo, Nairobi and South Africa's mega cities not excepted.
The shortfall in Addis Ababa and the subsequent and logical power rationing should not be indicative of a structural weakness of EEPCo. If anything, the corporation is probably one of the best performing and relatively less corrupt state owned organizations after national carrier Ethiopian and the civil aviation authorities (recently the proud recipients of Best Airport 2007 for Bole International Airport. Well done!)
EEPCo however, should review its public relations policy and strive to better inform its client - Ethiopia, of situations that are after all beyond its direct control and indicate no negligence on the part of the utility.
With that said, it is prudent to examine the impacts of curtailed power on the general economy. Perversely, once again, it is the urban poor who are bearing the brunt of yet another factor in the struggle to make ends meet.
Bread and especially, injera - to hundreds of thousands who don't bake it, run short two days a week, small and medium scale enterprises, service oriented businesses and other small yet vital nodes of the city's economy are suffering. Delivery dates are being reviewed by makers of sundry crafts, woodworks, metal products and others. School schedules are pushed back. In a nutshell, the prevailing power short fall will affect nearly all aspects of the economy.
The situation is not perhaps a problem in and of itself but another symptom of the bigger picture - that of a super heated economy which seems to outgrow its clothes as soon as you can say inflation.
Sound economics demand that growth, however much it is necessary, must be sustainable. Otherwise, progress itself becomes a challenge as the national economy strains to meet increasing demand in virtually all sectors.
Ethiopia is experiencing a steep developmental curve and the growing pains it is undergoing are not all that uncommon. Like other nations have done it is time for fiscal austerity, public stoicism and a renewed consideration for the impact of accelerated investment. A damper should be implemented on the economy so that eventually supply can catch up to demand. The nation needs time to absorb the development activities already carried out, underway or which are on stream before it can more sustainably develop itself out of poverty. Balanced and sustainable growth in measured and cautious steps is the only way out of the current economic squeeze.