Venezuela cuts 80 firms off electricity as punishment for not saving energy

The list of 80 companies include the local unit of Japanese firm Sony Corp, restaurants, liquor stores, hotels, gyms, car dealerships and a yacht club.
 
The state utility said that the firms in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, are due to have the power cut on Monday for failing to reduce electricity consumption by 20 percent.

Venezuela's hydroelectric sector, which produces more than 70 percent of the country's power supply, has been hit by drought.

President Hugo Chavez's cabinet has introduced rationing and demanded power cuts in order to cope with an electricity shortage.