Saeed Al-Suraihi

Okaz

There was a power outage in Dheba Governorate which the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) blamed on humidity. There was a similar problem in Khamis Mushayt Governorate which the SEC blamed on thunder, rain and wind.



Every time a city or a governorate suffers a blackout, the SEC issues statements explaining why the failure occurred, but it never blames itself. The SEC does not hold itself responsible for the blackouts and their negative consequences.



It always finds a way to absolve itself, its machinery and its contingency plans of any responsibility. At times it blames humidity, at other times it blames the weather and at times it blames people for straining the system with overuse. In its opinion, members of the public fail to follow its instructions in rationalizing and conserving the use of power. So, it is the people of Saudi Arabia who are to blame for switching on their AC units when it is hot outside. Women are to blame for using their electric ovens to prepare food for their families or using irons to press their clothes.



To say that rain and strong wind knocked out power may be a plausible explanation. But to say that an excess of humidity caused the power to switch off is implausible and completely unacceptable. How could humidity cause such damage to a power station?



I think the SEC does not need to explain the cause of a power outage the next time one occurs. It just needs to mention in its statement that there has been a power outage and then tell people that they know what the cause must be as by now everyone knows by heart the various excuses made by the SEC.