As we watched Naypyidaw (or Naypyiday) from the train, it struck us as nothing short of a bizarre abomination.

To compensate the EPC rations electricity by suburbs in towns that have power. The electricity is also rationed out according to priority. Army bases have priority, essential services, etc. The general populace come last.

The infrastructure is also subject to blackmarket connections to the grid and overloading of substations which if they fail will take a long time to fix because of cost.

Generally the EPC does try to supply electricity for lighting at night in areas where it is available. Most of Myanmar is without electrical grid.
Electricity meters for private houses are also restricted to save the grid.
You have to pay a significant amount just to buy a meter.

Meters are stolen and are worth a lot.

Naypyiday has put a huge demand on limited electrical resources.

The infrastructure can simply not support the demand. Hence electricity is harder to get than petrol.

Petrol is available almost everywhere in Myanmar. The unique design of the distribution system that foreigners dont see is that most petrol is given out as rations to officers in the army. They get about 40 gallons per month if they have a army car. They sell off half and make more money from this than their meagre wages. So most petrol in the country has flowed at some point through the army.

If the generals stopped this they would lose loyalty and the officers would not have enough money to survive. Most army bases have a blackmarket petrol shop opposite the front gate.