Venezuela has announced that, in an effort to try to conserve its energy, it will cut the working day for public sector workers down to five-and-a-half hours. The cost-saving measure is part of a nationwide electricity rationing plan.

As reported by the BBC, Vice President Jorge Arreaza has explained that there had been a surge in energy demand due to extremely hot weather.

Blackouts were reported across the country on Monday.

Although Arreaza stated that private companies would be asked to use their own generators to reduce pressure on the national grid, he cautioned that it was in fact private homeowners who consumed the most energy.

Calling for everyone in Venezuela to turn down their air conditioners, Arreaza said: "We are appealing to everyone's conscience, to use energy efficiently."

The Venezuelan government claimed last week that energy problems were due to maintenance issues.

According to BBC's Venezuela correspondent Daniel Pardo, the opposition party has blamed the energy problems on the government for not having invested enough in the energy sector. Power outages happen to be a frequent occurrence in Venezuela.

The Latin American country, although ranked as a huge producer of oil, depends heavily on hydro-electric power, and is currently dealing with an economy in recession that has suffered a great blow due to a fall in the price of oil, which make up 96 percent of its export revenue.

Inflation in Venezuela stood at more than 60 percent in 2014.

President Maduro has stated in the past that he believes his country’s oil problems are due to a conspiracy.

As quoted in a Reuters piece last December, Maduro accused the United States of trying to flood the market with shale oil.

"It's a strategically planned war ... also aimed at Venezuela, to try and destroy our revolution and cause an economic collapse," he said.