In recent years, a number of protests have already taken place across the country over the high cost of energy and the frequent power outage. In February 2010, for example, more than 200 villagers from two communes in Kandal Stung district staged a protest in front of Kandal provincial headquarters to demand cheaper electricity prices. In May of the same year, more than 1,000 families in Kampong Thom province collectively signed a petition to protest against high electricity prices in their areas. And recently, in June 2012, about 300 people from three villages in Kampong Cham’s Batheay district blocked National Road 6A to protest against the raising of electricity prices. Just one month later, more than 200 villagers in Preah Vihear town thumb-printed a joint complaint to provincial authorities to intervene after their private electricity company raised its price.