North Korea has begun a sweeping investigation into power usage during the rice planting season. Officials in North Hwanghae province received orders to report on electricity distribution from May onwards. Authorities want to assess if farms received adequate power during national mobilization efforts. The report will track usage across new residential areas and agricultural zones. Officials say this step aims to address problems caused by rising electric heater use.
The survey covers nine administrative regions, including cities like Sariwon and Hwangju. It includes apartments completed within the last three months. Officials grouped these homes by their electricity demand and evening usage patterns. The data shows apartment complexes exceeded grid-approved usage by 132 percent. Overuse of electric heater use triggered frequent circuit breaker failures in several areas.
Officials have labeled these heavily burdened locations as “unmanageable load zones.” They plan to impose closer monitoring in these places. In response, they divided the complexes into three categories. One group receives full power approval, another has restricted usage, and the last awaits a power cut decision. Thirteen complexes will now face complete bans on electric heater use and cooking devices.
In their preliminary findings, power officials blamed flawed apartment designs for the power strain. They said developers prioritized construction deadlines over electrical feasibility. New buildings included electric heaters but lacked the infrastructure to support them. Consequently, officials declared such electric heater use as illegal. They argued that the government should have better planned electricity needs before greenlighting these complexes.
To solve the issue, authorities proposed several reforms in their draft report. Future housing projects must run load simulations and check power capacity beforehand. They also advised installing automated shutoff systems in approved areas. Officials want dedicated power lines for heating and kitchen appliances. Random electricity checks after cutoffs are also being trialed. This measure appears to work despite complaints from residents.
Overall, officials hope stricter controls will ease the power burden. They believe better infrastructure planning will curb excessive electric heater use. These actions come amid pressure to maintain reliable electricity during crucial farming periods. North Korea continues to face energy challenges, especially in rural provinces. For now, residents must adapt to new power-saving rules.
