A study carried out by the National Energy Commission determined that the parallel power system has the capacity to produce 1,500 megawatts of energy ? almost as much as that produced by the formal power system. The financial collapse of the national electricity system has obliged companies and residences alike to operate alternate power systems, although at a much higher cost. Diario Libre reports that this is the reason why the productive sectors are able to stay open in face of the virtual collapse of the formal power system. The newspaper points out that with few exceptions, most of these alternate systems are not able to operate for 15-20 consecutive hours daily in order to compensate for the long blackouts dished out by the formal sector. The crisis recently affected the power plant at Plaza Central, one of the most frequented shopping malls, which had to close its doors one evening due to its generator?s failure. A similar incident occurred at the PUCMM, where classes were cancelled one evening. Vice President and Education Minister Milagros Ortiz Bosch has said the next government should shut down evening classes at public schools if the electricity crisis continues as at present. Superintendent of Electricity George Reinoso stated yesterday that the problem is financial in nature.