Companies short of electricity and feeling powerless

CIXI, Zhejiang - The timing could not be worse. Companies are trying to flex their muscles in an economy that has grown at breakneck speed since the global economic meltdown, and there's not enough electricity to power the work. In Cixi, the deficit is about 200,000 kilowatts.

"The frequent power crunch deals a fatal blow to small and medium-sized enterprises, which account for the majority of businesses here," said Lou Yuanfang, vice-chairman of the local business association. It also hits companies that consume high amounts of electricity the hardest.

With normal production interrupted, companies might lose their motives for development, and employees lose income, he said.