Welding is among the activities heavily dependent on electricity. For years, power cuts have been part of daily life. For small businesses whose operations rely on electricity, waiting for power to return is no longer an option. Internet cafés, hair salons and other shops are equipping themselves with generators to continue their activities. "Electricity is essential for our equipment to function. We cannot wait for it to return to keep working," says Fanja, owner of an internet café. In several neighborhoods, signs even announce service continuity despite power cuts. "We work even during power cuts," can be read in front of certain businesses. The objective is to maintain activity and not lose customers during outages. But this adaptation comes at a cost. In addition to their electricity bill, merchants must budget for fuel needed to run their generator. "We can consume about five liters of diesel for two hours," explains Fanja. Consumption depends on the power and type of generator used. For these small businesses, the generator has become a way to avoid interrupting their activity. A solution that allows them to continue working despite cuts, but which also increases daily expenses. Fanilo Mampianintsoa