A Glimpse of How Cairo's Residents Cope with Power Shortages

Getting ready for a street wedding, a worker in a Cairo neighborhood hangs a string of lights that is hooked up to overhead power lines. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Nightlife is the only life for Cairo residents during the summer when the heat means staying indoors during the day and going out only after the sun starts to set. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Power outages sometimes bring trains to a standstill, causing passengers to force open train doors and walk along the rails to the next station. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Residents connected to this electric box in Cairo steal an electricity by stripping wires and bypassing meters. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

With rates continuing to rise, Egyptian families often reduce costs by limiting lighting to one bulb for an entire room. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

A rigged electricity meter in a Cairo apartment building shows how residents sometimes resort to stealing to save money on electric bills. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

Cairo’s temperatures reach as high as 50 degrees Celsius during the summer. That means brisk business for appliance vendors like this refrigerator salesman. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

A Cairo apartment building is dotted with outdoor condenser units. For those who can afford the electricity, air conditioning is not a luxury but a necessity. (H. Elrasam/VOA)

The introduction in recent years of lower-consumption LED bulbs mean many Cairo residents, like patrons and this street café, can continue to enjoy bright lights on a summer’s eve. (H. Elrasam/VOA)