Wondering why the electricity is cut for about ten minutes each evening at 10pm, and then cut again briefly at about 5am?

Leung Narin, the administrator of Siem Reap Electricity, told Insider that the brief but annoying cuts are due to an electricity supply source change-over.

Since the end of November 2007, electricity in Siem Reap has been supplied from Thailand on a trial basis, and prior to this, Siem Reap electricity was generated by large diesel-run generators.

But recently efforts were made to reduce the expense of buying power from Thailand by using cheaper electricity generated in Phnom Penh during off peak periods, from 10pm until 5am.

Leung Narin said, “The power demand in Phnom Penh at nighttime is less than daytime.That’s why they can share their power with us, and help us reduce our expense.”

Each time the switch is made, the Siem Reap electricity supply is cut for about 10 minutes, allowing technicians to modify the power supply direction.

This electricity is transmitted from Phnom Penh through Pur Sat province, and hopefully the brief cuts will soon be a thing of the past.

“We are trying to find the way around this problem,” Leung Narin said. “We are testing our electricity equipment to make sure the electricity will never be cut off again when we change the direction of the electricity supply.”

Yeav Davy, electricity technical controller, said he has received complaints about the power cuts, adding that residents have also been informed about power cutting via radio and TV.

Some hotels, guesthouses, and companies are facing problems due to the brief power cuts.

A female staffer from Borei Angkor Resort and Spa told Insider that the cuts create difficulties at the hotel because some phones and printers don’t work after the power supply has been interrupted.