Emergency power cuts introduced in Ukraine: how long will they last and what will happen in summer
16 May 2024 11:35
Ukrenergo has introduced controlled emergency outages for industrial and residential consumers in all regions of Ukraine from 00:00 and throughout the day on 16 May. The company announced this on Facebook, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
“From 00:00 and throughout the day on 16 May, planned restrictions will be in place for household and industrial consumers throughout Ukraine – schedules of hourly outages,”
– the statement reads.
As explained by Ukrenergo, this will help make controlled outages more predictable for consumers and the operation of the power system safer.
Ukrenergo’s dispatch centre has already informed regional power distribution companies of consumption limits for each region.
In the evening of 14 May, emergency power cuts were introduced in all regions of Ukraine from 21:00 to 00:00.
Power engineers explained that on 14 May, in order to overcome the deficit in the power system, at the request of Ukrenergo, they activated emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine from 00:00 to 07:00 and from 11:00 to 24:00 from the power systems of Romania, Poland, and Slovakia.
In addition, from 11:00 to 16:00, at the request of the Polish power system operator, the Ukrainian power system received surplus electricity.
On the morning of 15 May, due to a shortage of electricity, all regions of Ukraine experienced blackouts again, including household consumers.
on 15 May, emergency assistance from the EU was provided from 00:00 to 07:00.
In the evening of 15 May, from 19:25 to 22:00, Ukrenergo introduced controlled emergency power outages for industrial and residential consumers in all regions of Ukraine.
Where to find out about the power outage schedules
You can get information on how electricity consumption restrictions will be applied in your region in your consumer account, on the official websites of regional power distribution companies, as well as on their social media pages.
The reason for the restrictions
Russian troops have repeatedly attacked energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine this spring. In particular, at night and in the morning of 8 May, according to the Ministry of Energy, Russian forces attacked electricity generation and transmission facilities in six regions – Poltava, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Vinnytsia. Due to the power shortage, Ukrenergo then imposed restrictions on power supply for industry and business, but also warned that blackouts for household consumers were possible.
The reason for the restrictions is an increase in electricity consumption during the cold snap. The capacity of Ukrainian power plants is insufficient due to the effects of five missile and drone attacks carried out by Russia on the Ukrainian power system since 22 March.
Ukrenergo CEO Volodymyr Kudrytskyi said during a national telethon that Ukraine has lost a large amount of capacity at its power plants and is now short of it. That is why it has been necessary to cut off electricity for industry for some time now. That is why a large number of household consumers could not notice the blackout. But the power shortage in the system has been felt for a long time.
He explained that there are several ways to compensate for the electricity shortage.
“This is commercial imports made by companies from Europe. When this is not enough, Ukrenergo can use emergency assistance from neighbouring countries, and when this is not enough, we can limit the consumption of industrial consumers. But when this is not enough, we are forced to involve not only industry but also the population in limiting consumption to balance the situation,”
– said the CEO of Ukrenergo.
It is also known that Ukraine will enter the autumn-winter period of 2024-2025 with a deficit of electricity generation capacity. Its volume will be determined by the ability to protect the power system from shelling, and thus from the supply of military aid from partners.
Will there be power cuts in the summer?
Power cuts for the population are possible during the summer peak months of electricity consumption, when air conditioners start working – in apartments, offices and shops.
“The deficit has not disappeared, imports have physical limitations, and the demand for a commodity called electricity is growing significantly due to low temperatures. Today it’s low, and in summer it’s the opposite – because of the heat load,”
– explained Sergiy Kovalenko, CEO of YASNO.
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