As power cuts prompt a surge in demand for generators, Klikk General Manager Gordon Zammit is urging people to plan ahead during the winter months.

Mr Zammit tells WhosWho.mt that generator sales at the tech retailer rose approximately tenfold in recent days until its available stock was entirely depleted.

Battery-operated fans and other related products also sold out.

“However, my advice would be for consumers to plan ahead during the winter months rather than wait for an emergency,” he said.

“These systems should be viewed as a longer-term investment in energy resilience and management, rather than simply as a temporary response to power cuts.”

He added that newer household technologies go well beyond the function of traditional generators.

Battery-powered backup systems can keep homes running during power cuts while helping households make better use of electricity generated from alternative sources, including solar panels.

They also allow users to monitor and manage their energy consumption more effectively.

Several hardware retailers and distributors reported a high recent demand for household generators when contacted by WhosWho.mt.

Moppelshop owner Max Zammit pointed out that while some people are buying generators for personal comfort, for others they are an absolute necessity.

These include people with lung machines, families with newborn babies, and elderly people. 

“It is an unfortunate situation,” he said.

Several parts of Malta have experienced power cuts during an intense heatwave that drove electricity demand to a new record of 741MW on Tuesday, significantly higher than the previous record of 663MW registered in the summer of 2023.

Enemalta Chairperson Ryan Fava admitted that the record demand caught the state energy provider by surprise.