Nepalis are being forced to adjust to the new load-shedding regimen, which is seeing electricity cut at least once a week, for about 1 ? hours each in the morning and evening for Kathmandu Valley residents and slightly less for the rest of the country. As reported often in Nepali Times (#229, 274 and 277), the problem is simply one of supply and demand: as demand grows in cold winter months the nation's rivers that drive the power plants are shrinking for lack of rainfall. This winter's drought in some parts of the country is making the situation even worse now. The Nepal Electricity Authority says that it can produce only 470 megawatts of power from the total 540 MW generated by the nation's various power projects, whereas demand during winter exceeds 600 MW. The only relief is the 70 MW Middle Marsyangdi project, slated to start working at the end of 2007 but the NEA says load shedding is here at least until the summer.