Local businesses in Mestia say the reported reduction in electricity consumption has not translated into any noticeable improvement in power outages. Ekaterine Gvelesiani, founder of Hotel Paliani, said electricity interruptions remain a recurring problem, particularly in winter.
“We were without electricity for several hours yesterday, which obviously causes dissatisfaction among guests. We are also worried about the winter season, when outages are more frequent and longer. The electricity infrastructure has not been properly upgraded or replaced for many years, so we have no positive expectations for this winter either,” Gvelesiani told BM.GE.
She said businesses continue to face uncertainty over the reliability of electricity supplies, which directly affects the tourism sector and guest experience.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said earlier that balancing meters have been installed in 33 villages in Mestia Municipality and that electricity consumption has fallen by 22% as part of efforts to curb cryptocurrency mining. However, he acknowledged that further reductions are needed.
