Billboards go dark in Venezuela

CARACAS, Venezuela, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- City planners complain an electricity measure is unfair as 30 percent of the billboards in Venezuela go dark Friday as part of an energy plan, officials said.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez signed a formal electricity emergency last week as the country struggles with rolling blackouts.

Chavez said during a radio program that pervasive drought created "an emergency" in Venezuela, which relies on hydroelectricity for much of its energy needs.

Caracas is weighing a series of options to make up for the shortfall, including a deal with Colombia, thermal power plants and $6 million in investments in solar energy.

Consumers during the emergency face stiff penalties for heavy usage. Discounts are available for low-energy consumers.

Electricidad de Caracas, the government utility, are monitoring energy usage from heavy consumers in the industrial and commercial sector. Heavy consumers are expected to reduce power demands by 10 percent starting Friday and another 10 percent by next week to avoid power cuts, Venezuela's El Universal newspaper reports.

Victor Maldonado, the director of the Chamber of Commerce in Caracas, said the measure was impractical.

"The government has not talked to any sector to build public policies," he complained.