“The power is off, Sadyr Nurgozhoevich! We can’t turn on the kettle, there’s not enough electricity to iron our pants. They only installed smart meters to our misfortune,” shouted an elderly citizen.
This moment, which was recorded on video by other attendees, went viral on social media, although it did not make it into the official video report from the president's press service.
Japarov asked the security to bring the man over to respond to him. In his response, he noted that if it weren’t for the measures taken, the situation with electricity would be much worse.
“If it weren’t for our efforts, you would be sitting here without electricity, like in the 19th century. All hydroelectric power stations, such as Toktogul and Kurpsai, had not been repaired since the 50s-70s. Essentially, they operated for almost 50 years without interruption. When I came to power, their condition was catastrophic.”
“We have been working on improvements for four years, and now most of the facilities have been updated. After the repair of four units at the Toktogul HPP, its capacity increased by 240 megawatts. Thanks to this, you have electricity. Additionally, 28 hydroelectric power stations have been put into operation.”
The president added: “I don’t want to criticize my predecessors, but if I had just sat idle since 2020 without engaging in construction, there would be enough electricity, as there would be no new factories and plants. In the winter, the deficit was somehow covered, and in the summer, it would have been easier. I could also have sat quietly without building new facilities, schools, and kindergartens,” he emphasized.
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Energy Minister Talaybek Ibraev previously stated that the upcoming winter would be the most challenging for Kyrgyzstan. Since the beginning of September, the country has been actively saving electricity. By mid-November 2025, the authorities:- banned the use of outdoor lighting in government institutions in the evening;
- restricted electricity consumption in schools after 6:00 PM;
- introduced a new power limit for the population - up to 3 kW, forcing residents to choose between turning on the washing machine and the electric kettle;
- banned the operation of mining farms until March 2026;
- the Bishkek city administration reported that in cafes, restaurants, and nightclubs, all electrical appliances, especially energy-intensive ones, must be turned off after 10:00 PM, although this requirement was soon relaxed;
- the president instructed to minimize the volume of electricity imports.
