Residents of Payathonzu in Karin State, on the Thai-Myanmar border, who rely on electricity from Thailand, have solved their electricity problems by using solar power when the power is cut off, according to local residents.
People in the region who can afford it use solar energy systems valued around 170,000 bahts and
those who cannot afford it use cheaper solar systems costing around 200 to 300 bahts.
The majority of businesses operating in the border town of Payathozu are restaurants, clothing stores, and grocery stores and when the day Thai started to cut off electricity, some of them who rely on faced losses, said a local resident. When Thai cut off electricity, fuel prices rose and a bag of charcoal now rose to 350 bahts which used to cost 250 bahts.
There are more than 5,000 local households in Payathonzu Town, and most of them are waiting for the restoration of electricity from Thai side. The Thai side started to cut off electricity to the Thai-Myanmar border towns of Myawaddy, Payathonzu, Shwe Kokko and Tachilek since February 5.
