No more saving? The government has cancelled the ban on air conditioning and lighting in state institutions
30 September 2024 12:10
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has decided to lift some restrictions related to energy saving. Thus, starting from 30 September 2024, state institutions and enterprises will again be allowed to use air conditioners and switch on outdoor lighting in buildings and surrounding areas, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The saving measures were envisaged by the Cabinet of Ministers’ Resolution No. 510-r of 07.06, as amended on 09.08. At that time, the government clearly ordered some state bodies, and some (for example, the Office of the President of Ukraine and the Verkhovna Rada) only recommended that they save electricity by not using air conditioning and switching off outdoor lighting near their buildings. These savings measures were supposed to be implemented until the end of 2024.
But now they are being cancelled three months earlier. The government has replaced the relevant dates of 31 December 2024 with 30 September 2024. The relevant changes were made on 26 September by Order No. 910-r.
Ukrenergo has also changed its appeals to citizens. If earlier they were asked to use electricity sparingly during peak hours, now they are urged to use powerful electrical appliances during the daytime – from 10:00 to 16:00.
Follow us on Telegram: the main news in a nutshell
Situation in the Ukrainian energy sector
on 29 March 2024, Russia resumed its attacks on the Ukrainian energy sector, carrying out the most massive shelling in the entire period of the full-scale war. In particular, DniproHES and other Ukrainian energy facilities were hit. Since then, Russia has been regularly shelling Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
For example, the Russians destroyed the Trypillia and Zmiiv thermal power plants, causing Centrenergo to lose 100% of its generation. Also, 5 of DTEK’s 6 thermal power plants were severely damaged.
After that, power outages began again in Ukraine, Ukrenergo introduced blackout schedules and the government raised electricity tariffs by 60% at once.
At the same time, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to build two new units at the Khmelnytsky NPP and has already received the approval of the relevant parliamentary committee. The Razumkov Centre criticised these plans.
Russia launched another massive attack on the Ukrainian energy sector on 26 August. This time, they attacked distribution and power generation systems, and also hit the Kyiv hydroelectric power station.
Some experts believe that the blackouts could last until spring. The National Security and Defence Council’s Disinformation Countermeasures Centre recently voiced a worst-case scenario that envisages blackouts of up to 20 hours a day.
Follow us on Telegram: the main news in a nutshell
