Brazil’s Mines and Energy Minister Bento Albuquerque warned that the crisis had escalated as the water levels at hydropower plants were already at their lowest level in 91 years of records, reported Reuters.

“Today I return to inform you that our hydro-energy conditions have worsened,” Albuquerque said in a televised national address, according to Reuters. “The rainy season in the south was worse than expected. As a result, the reservoirs of our hydroelectric power plants in the southeast and midwest suffered a greater reduction than expected.”

Lack of rainfall has marred the hydropower output equal to the energy consumed by the city of Rio de Janeiro in five months, he said.

Hydropower is the largest source of energy in Brazil.

The minister urged Brazilians to do everything to cut down on energy consumption to ease the crisis.

Federal government agencies had been asked to reduce their energy usage, he added.

The  Energy Ministry also announced a hike in energy prices with affected consumers paying an average of 6.78 percent more for electricity starting September 1, Reuters reported.

The ministry also said that consumers, who voluntarily reduce their energy consumption, would be given incentives that had been already passed by it.

Albuquerque also suggested consumers use natural light rather than electric lights and reduce the use of electric showers, air conditioners, and clothing irons to save energy, the report added.