The unusually quiet and dark streets of Cairo are catching the attention of the international press. Reuters and the Associated Press are both out with pieces interviewing cafe and shop owners and workers to get the on-the-ground reaction to the government’s decision to shut select businesses early to tackle rising energy costs and potential energy shortages. Since Saturday, shops, malls, restaurants, and cafes have been forced to close at 9pm on weekdays and 10pm on Thursdays and Fridays.

Small customer-facing businesses are already feeling the hit, with one cafe owner telling the AP that early closing cutting off the establishment’s peak hours has been “ruinous,” forcing him to cut 40% of his 35-strong workforce. Another cafe owner interviewed by Reuters said staff are now alternating shifts to manage reduced working hours, while the manager of an accessories store said that revenues have halved while costs remained. “You still have employees, rent, electricity and water bills... and there are taxes,” he explained.

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