Parts of the energy grid are crumbling because of the heat, with many cables giving way as demand rises, though the capacity is not in question.
A series of power cuts in several localities over the past few days saw many frustrated people taking to their air-conditioned cars to be able to survive the few hours without electricity.
Others opted to spend time by the sea but many, including the elderly, did not have options.
A man, who preferred not to be named, said his mother-in-law almost passed out earlier this week when a three-hour-long power cut affected their area. She had to be transferred to a relative who still had electricity.
The power cuts are not the result of lack of capacity but a series of faults in cables that “have a tendency” to give way in summer due to the higher temperatures and higher loads.
Another factor contributing to the faults is damage by contractors working on various road projects around the island.
A spokesman for Enemalta said the country had enough capacity to meet the increased demand in the summer months, which eased off in recent years with people making energy-saving investments.
The spokesman said the faults were mainly caused by stress on 11 kilovolt cables, which tended to expand, weakening the insulation in conditions of higher operating temperature.
In such circumstances, the cables could fail at weak points, especially due to ageing, stress caused by contractor damage or other system faults.
Another factor contributing to the failure of these cables was the mechanical strain caused by the passage of heavy vehicles, the spokesman said.
Sources said that in these extreme heat conditions, tarmac, which had been in place for several years, tended to soften, causing it to give way, albeit slightly, under the weight of heavy vehicles.
There are about 2,600 cable circuits in Malta and Gozo. The Enemalta spokesman said 20 cable faults in Malta and four in Gozo were caused by contractor damage.
As power cuts continued, people seem to be toying with the idea of installing generators as a back-up. One main supplier said he had a sudden surge in enquiries but not such a steep rise in sales.