Phatthalung Highway Office Defends Light Cuts for Energy Savings
The Phatthalung Rural Highway Office said it switched off some street lights to save energy under government policy, after villagers lit candles to protest the darkness. Officials later found that stolen power cables also contributed to the outages and promised to restore normal lighting within two to three days. The move aims to ease public hardship and improve road safety.
Phatthalung Rural Highway Office has clarified why it turned off some street lights, saying the move is part of energy‑saving measures and only affects spots deemed low priority, after local residents lit candles at temples to protest the lack of lighting.
Residents of Ban Tao Puun, Moo 7, Tambon Lumpha, Amphoe Mueang, Phatthalung Province lit candles along the roadside to highlight their frustration over missing flashing and streetlights, and called on relevant authorities to address the problem.
On 19 October 2569 (2026 CE), Mr. Seri Chunpool, a civil engineering technician at the Phatthalung Rural Highway Office, explained that the agency is not indifferent to public concerns. The reduction of lighting in certain areas follows the government's energy‑saving policy intended to cope with the energy crisis, war impacts, and high fuel prices.
The office had sent officials to survey the area and decided to switch off lighting only where it is considered less necessary, in line with the policy. However, upon learning that the measure had caused inconvenience to local residents, the office rushed to investigate the situation fully. In addition to the energy‑saving policy, officials discovered that some power cables had been stolen in certain sections.
The Phatthalung Rural Highway Office is now working urgently to repair and fix the problem, expecting to restore normal lighting in the affected spots within two to three days, thereby alleviating residents' hardship and improving travel safety.
