When power goes, water pumps stop.
En los primeros días de marzo de 2024, Hidrandina —la empresa encargada de llevar electricidad al norte del Perú— anunció un corte programado en la región La Libertad, previsto para extenderse del 4 al 10 de marzo. Detrás del aviso no hay crisis ni falla, sino el trabajo silencioso del mantenimiento: esa labor invisible que sostiene los sistemas sobre los que descansa la vida cotidiana. El domingo 10 concentraría el mayor peso del apagón, tocando distritos rurales como Otuzco, Julcán, Sayapullo y Marmot, donde la oscuridad temporal es el precio de una red más confiable.
- Doce sectores de Otuzco, junto con comunidades de Julcán, Sayapullo y Marmot, quedarán sin electricidad el domingo 10 de marzo, el día de mayor impacto de la intervención.
- La ausencia de luz arrastra consigo riesgos secundarios: velas que pueden incendiar hogares, estufas que acumulan gases peligrosos, teléfonos que se agotan sin posibilidad de recarga.
- Hidrandina respondió al desconcierto potencial con información concreta: listas detalladas de sectores afectados, recomendaciones de seguridad y canales de contacto como el número 0801-71001 y la app Distriluz.
- Los vecinos son instados a actuar antes del corte —almacenar agua y alimentos, desconectar electrodomésticos, anotar números en papel— convirtiendo la espera en preparación activa.
- El apagón, lejos de ser una ruptura, se perfila como un intervalo calculado: una pausa en el servicio que busca garantizar su continuidad futura.
Hidrandina anunció esta semana un corte programado de electricidad en la región La Libertad, con vigencia del lunes 4 al domingo 10 de marzo de 2024. La empresa justificó la interrupción por trabajos de mantenimiento en el sistema eléctrico y difundió el aviso a través de sus redes sociales para que los usuarios pudieran prepararse con anticipación.
El impacto no sería uniforme a lo largo de la semana. La jornada más exigente sería el domingo 10, cuando cuatro distritos rurales perderían el suministro. Otuzco vería apagados doce sectores, entre ellos Huaranchal, Sinsicap y el propio casco urbano. Julcán perdería luz en zonas como Vista Alegre y Dos de Mayo. Sayapullo quedaría sin servicio en más de una docena de localidades, incluyendo Lucma, Totora y el centro poblado. Los distritos de Marmot y Lucma también se verían afectados, con comunidades como Compín, Nanopampa y Nuevo Progreso entre las involucradas.
Ante el corte, Hidrandina emitió recomendaciones prácticas: evitar el uso de velas por el riesgo de incendio, garantizar ventilación si se emplean estufas o calefactores, y almacenar agua potable y alimentos que no requieran cocción. La empresa también aconsejó desconectar los electrodomésticos antes del apagón para protegerlos de los picos de tensión al restablecerse el servicio.
Para mantener la comunicación con los usuarios, la compañía habilitó el número gratuito 0801-71001, la aplicación Distriluz y un correo electrónico de atención al cliente. Como nota adicional, Hidrandina recordó que las etiquetas energéticas de los electrodomésticos —con escalas que van de A+++ hasta D— permiten identificar cuánta energía consume cada aparato, una herramienta útil para reducir el gasto una vez que el servicio se restablezca.
Hidrandina, the regional utility responsible for electricity across northern Peru, announced this week that residents of La Libertad would face a scheduled power outage stretching from Monday, March 4 through Sunday, March 10. The company cited routine electrical system maintenance as the reason for the interruption, communicating the plan through its social media channels to give customers time to prepare.
The outage would not affect all of La Libertad uniformly. Most of the week would see minimal disruption, with the heaviest work concentrated on a single day: Sunday, March 10. On that date, four rural districts would lose power. Otuzco would be hit hardest, with twelve sectors going dark—Huaranchal, Colgaguro, Pampa Verde, Chuquizongo, Ascot, Los Ángeles, Huayobamba, Otuzco itself, La Cuesta, Paranady, Sinsicap, and surrounding communities. Julcán would experience outages in Vista Alegre, Cesar Vallejo, Dos de Mayo, Carrapalday, Parque Alto, and Parque Bajo. Sayapullo's affected zones included Alto Huayday, Chanchamayo, Cuina, El Súit, Totora, Huayday, Llanos, Lucma, Pallares, Sayapullito, Melgas, and the town center. The districts of Marmot and Lucma would also go offline, touching Lucma, Compín, Agua Agria, Nanopampa, Nuevo Progreso, El Alto, Marmot, Cormot, and nearby areas.
Hidrandina issued a series of practical recommendations for residents bracing for the blackout. The company advised against using candles, which pose fire risks in homes without electricity. It warned families to ensure proper ventilation if they relied on stoves or heaters during the outage, since these appliances emit gases that can accumulate dangerously indoors. Households were urged to stock drinking water and shelf-stable foods that require no cooking. The utility suggested assembling an emergency kit and writing down critical phone numbers on paper—a reminder that cell phones would be useless once batteries drained.
To help residents stay connected, Hidrandina provided multiple contact channels. Customers could call 0801-71001 from a landline, or download the Distriluz mobile app to report problems or ask questions. An email address, atencionhdna@distriluz.com.pe, was also made available for those who preferred written communication. The company, formally known as Empresa Regional de Servicio Público de Electricidad Electronortemedio S.A., operates under the oversight of Peru's Ministry of Energy and Mines.
The announcement included a secondary piece of advice: residents should unplug electrical appliances before the outage began. This precaution prevents damage when power suddenly returns and surges through the system. For those curious about their own electricity consumption, Hidrandina noted that most household appliances carry energy labels on their packaging. The labels use a simple scale—A+++, A++, and A+ indicate high efficiency and low consumption, while A and B suggest moderate use, and C and D signal heavy demand. Understanding these ratings could help families reduce their overall power draw once service resumed.
Citações Notáveis
Residents should avoid using candles due to fire risk and ensure proper ventilation if using stoves or heaters during the outage.— Hidrandina safety recommendations
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
Why concentrate all the maintenance work into a single day if the outage window spans a week?
That's the practical reality of how these systems work. You need continuous power flowing through the network while you're doing repairs. The week-long window probably accounts for preparation, safety protocols, and the actual work compressed into that one Sunday. It's not that they're being inefficient—it's that you can't safely maintain live electrical infrastructure while it's running.
These are rural districts. How do people there typically prepare for something like this?
Many of these communities don't have the infrastructure urban areas do. No backup generators in most homes, no municipal water systems with storage tanks. When the power goes, water pumps stop. That's why Hidrandina specifically told people to store water beforehand. It's not just about comfort—it's about basic survival in places where electricity and water are tightly linked.
The company mentions not using candles. Is that a real concern, or just liability language?
It's a real concern. In rural areas where people might not have flashlights or batteries readily available, candles become the default. But in homes built with wood or thatch, or where people are unfamiliar with fire safety, a candle left unattended during a blackout can become dangerous very quickly. It's practical advice, not just legal covering.
Why provide three different contact methods—phone, app, and email?
Because not everyone has the same access. Older residents might only have a landline. Younger people prefer the app. Email works for those who can't reach anyone by phone. In a rural region, you're dealing with varying levels of connectivity and technological comfort. Hidrandina is trying to ensure no one is left without a way to report a problem.
Does this kind of maintenance happen regularly?
Yes, electrical grids require constant upkeep. The fact that Hidrandina announced it in advance and provided this much detail suggests they've learned from past outages. They're treating it as a managed event, not an emergency, which means residents have time to actually prepare rather than scramble.