Homes in Kyaukme Town, northern Shan State, remain without electricity while only government offices receive power, as widespread outages are compounded by reports of stolen power cables.
Since October 2025, when the junta regained control of Kyaukme from the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), electricity has been supplied only to government offices under the regime’s administration, while residential areas remain cut off.
“Government offices in Kyaukme receive electricity. As the district capital, all government offices in Kyaukme have electricity, while even Thibaw (Hsipaw), another major town in the same district, remains without power. Since the junta regained control, the Namsong Nguang Hydroelectric Power Plant has supplied electricity to the town since November last year. However, residential areas are still without power, and frequent outages have led to repeated theft of power lines,” a woman from Kyaukme told Shan Herald.
In Wards 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9 of downtown Kyaukme, electricity cables from roadside poles and residential connections are being stolen daily, according to local residents.
During periods of intense fighting in Kyaukme, electricity cables were reportedly stolen as residents fled the town, leaving locals to bear significant costs for repairs.
“We’ve heard that all transformers and power lines are already installed and ready, but electricity still hasn’t been restored. Power in Kyaukme is expected to return only if access from TNLA-controlled Moetay Village is restored. There are also rumors that electricity may be back by the end of May, though the costs involved are likely to be passed on to the public. Meanwhile, theft remains widespread, and residents are having to rely on themselves to protect their homes,” the aforementioned woman added.
There are discussions about restoring electricity to Kyaukme through the Shweli (Ruili) power grid that passes through TNLA-controlled areas, but even if power is restored, residents are expected to cover the costs of replacing missing cables and other necessary repairs.
Wire theft has become rampant in Kyaukme, driven by high prices for scrap copper wire offered by dealers handling stolen goods. The junta has threatened tough action, including confiscating the assets of those who purchase stolen wire, but the situation has not improved, according to locals.
