Venezuela's socialist government has ordered public workers to work a two-day week as an energy-saving measure in the crisis-hit South American country.
President Nicolas Maduro had already given most of Venezuela's 2.8m state employees Fridays off during April and May to cut down on electricity consumption.
"From tomorrow, for at least two weeks, we are going to have Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays as non-working days for the public sector," Mr Maduro said on his weekly television programme.
Drought has reduced water levels at Venezuela's main dam and hydroelectric plant in Guri to near-critical levels.
The dam provides for about two-thirds of the nation's energy needs.
Water shortages and electricity cuts have added to the hardships of Venezuela's 30m people, already enduring a brutal recession, shortages of basics from milk to medicines, soaring prices, and long lines at shops.
The president, who succeeded the late Hugo Chavez in 2013 and is facing an opposition push to remove him, appealed for understanding and support.
"The Guri has virtually become a desert. With all these measures, we are going to save it," he said, adding that the daily drop in water level had slowed to 10cm from 20cm.
