The paradox of blackouts in Kyiv: a quarter of residents consumed more electricity than before the blackouts
26 December 18:09
In November, when Kyiv was subject to long power outage schedules, some residents unexpectedly increased their electricity consumption rather than reducing it. This effect is attributed to a combination of colder weather, changes in household habits, and so-called “catch-up” consumption after the electricity returns.
This was announced by the CEO of the electricity supplier YASNO, Serhiy Kovalenko, reports "Komersant Ukrainian".
What the statistics show
According to the company, in November:
- 26% of Kyiv residents increased their electricity consumption;
- 20% left it at the same level;
- 54% reduced it.
On average, consumption in the city decreased by 20%, but the distribution was uneven. We are talking about the period when there was no electricity in some areas for several hours a day.
Why there is less light and more consumption
Serhii Kovalenko names several reasons for this paradox. Firstly, the cold snap, which forced more active use of heaters, boilers and other energy-intensive equipment. Secondly, individual household habits: after the power supply is restored, people often turn on all appliances at the same time.
This energy effect is called delayed or “catch-up” consumption. It is also compounded by the appearance of new residents in homes – relatives or friends – which automatically increases the overall electricity consumption.
“Charging fever”
In the comments, Kyiv residents describe a familiar situation: as soon as the power goes on, mass charging of phones, laptops, power banks, and home charging stations begins. An additional load is created by energy storage systems, which actually consume more from the grid than they supply due to losses during charging and discharging.
After prolonged outages, household appliances such as refrigerators, boilers, and washing machines also work harder, trying to quickly restore the set modes. As a result, it seems that electricity is “disappearing” faster than before.
Energy experts’ advice – and warnings
YASNO advises:
- unplug appliances during outages;
- do not leave the lights on in all rooms;
- do not run several powerful devices at once after the power comes back on.
According to Kovalenko, this helps to reduce the peak load on the grid and partially reduces the amount of money in bills.
At the same time, energy expert Andriy Zakharchenko notes that advice on the order in which appliances are turned on has more of an impact on grid stability than on total consumption. According to him, real savings are achieved by other steps: lowering the temperature of the boiler, using air conditioners instead of heaters in positive temperatures, washing at low temperatures, and refusing to use appliances on a “standby” basis.
Waiting for payments and tension in the neighborhoods
Some residents of the capital admit that they are dreading December bills, especially owners of charging stations and battery systems that operate in a constant cycle. There is also a psychological factor – anxiety that something will be left uncharged, and the habit of “rushing to the outlets” as soon as the power goes on.
