Island mayor to sue PPC as power remains elusive
The electricity supply was gradually being restored to Santorini Thursday following a blackout caused by a fire at a local power station on Tuesday but much of the southern Aegean island remained without power, prompting the island’s mayor, Anastasios-Nikolaos Zorzos, to threaten legal action against the Public Power Corporation.
The upheaval came amid signs that Santorini, one of Greece’s most popular tourist destinations, is on track to break a record of 1.9 million foreign visitors attracted in 2011.
A navy vessel and a passenger ferry were dispatched to bring mobile power generators to the island for use until the power station – situated in Monolithos, some 9 kilometers southeast of Fira – is fully operational. In the meantime, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, known by its acronym DEDDIE, announced a rotating schedule for power supply to different parts of the island. Fira, for instance, is to have power from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday while the more popular resort of Oia is scheduled to have electricity from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 9 to 11 p.m.
Islanders have sought to make the most of the blackout with local authorities sending out musicians and singers into the streets to entertain tourists while restaurateurs and bar owners have done their best to capitalize on the romantic aspect of dinner or drinks by moonlight.
