Unscheduled blackouts returned in February 2026 after apparent stabilization throughout 2025, ending a brief respite from a crisis persisting for over 15 years. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced an energy conservation plan on March 22 to address a solar phenomenon expected to elevate temperatures for 45 days, a period that concluded on May 8. Western regions including Zulia and Mérida states experience the most severe impacts, enduring outages extending to seven hours daily. These areas occupy the furthest position on the transmission network fed primarily by the Guri hydroelectric complex in southwestern Venezuela, placing them at the system’s weakest point.
The Maracaibo Chamber of Commerce reports 40 percent of commercial establishments in Zulia state remained closed in 2025, down from 60 percent in 2022. Chamber President Dino Cafoncelli stated that medium and large enterprises have secured backup generation systems, but small businesses lack financial capacity for alternative power sources. Survey data from the organization indicates over 90 percent of members identify electrical failures as their primary operational concern. Even Caracas, historically insulated from prolonged outages, now experiences daily voltage fluctuations.
The government announced negotiations with Siemens and General Electric to address the crisis, though no contract details, timelines, or work commencement dates have been disclosed. Engineer Alejandro López from Rafael Belloso Chacín University’s Technology Research Center advocates for system decentralization through regional thermoelectric plant reactivation and personnel training, specifically targeting Termozulia turbines originally installed by the two companies. Residents report unpredictable outage timing without official schedules, forcing behavioral adjustments including early meal preparation to avoid cooking during blackouts.
This article was curated and published as part of our South American energy market coverage.
