Problematic power grid plagues Iraqis

BAGHDAD

The generator caught fire in April and was closed for repairs that took nearly four months, becoming yet another example of the woes plaguing Iraq’s electric grid. Despite nearly $4.7 billion spent by U.S. taxpayers since 2003 on fixing the system, insufficient maintenance, sabotage and other problems mean that residents of Baghdad get an average of just eight hours of power per day.