Thousands of residents across Oslo and surrounding areas experienced significant power outages on Tuesday evening, due to high-voltage failures affecting multiple transformer stations. Over 8,000 customers were impacted, with major disruptions reported in locations including Haugerud, Trosterud, Lindeberg, Alfaset, and parts of Lillestrøm and Lørenskog.
The outage began shortly before 6:20 PM when the first alerts were received. According to Elvia, the power failure affected approximately 5,297 customers in Oslo alone, along with 1,831 customers in Lillestrøm, 1,052 in Lørenskog, and 148 on Rælingen. Elvia's communication chief, Morten Schau, confirmed to Aftenposten the timeline of events, stating, "Klokken 18.19 fikk vi melding fra brannvesenet om en trafostasjon som det gnistret fra ved Strømmen stadion,” which indicates sparks were reported from the transformer station.
Residents reported feeling the impact immediately, struggling with unexpected darkness. Tor Magne Brækkan, chair of the Lutvanntoppen housing association, noted, "Vi sitter med stearinlys og lommelykter," highlighting the resourcefulness of those affected as they turned to candles and flashlights. The abrupt outage disrupted activities; Siham Essekouri and her family were enjoying dinner when the lights went out. She shared, "Det er veldig uvanlig. Så det var en ekkel følelse med tanke hva som skjer rundt omkring i verden nå.”
Elvia confirmed the emergency teams were quickly dispatched to investigate and rectify the issue. By approximately 7 PM, power was slowly being restored to all impacted areas. Schau reported, "Da fikk siste kunde strøm igjen,” signifying the successful restoration of service by 7:13 PM.
The challenges faced by residents were compounded by wintery weather conditions, as reports indicated many struggled with heating systems going offline. Marianna Lind, also from Trosterud, explained the sense of unease, recalling how her neighborhood was plunged completely Into darkness. She lamented during the outage, stating, "Vi har funnet frem lommelykter, for hele Trosterud er mørklagt.”
By the time power was restored to all 8,342 affected customers, relief swept through the community, yet the ordeal left many considering the reliability of such infrastructure during peak times, especially as winter remains at the doorstep. Following the initial outages, Elvia assured the public they are evaluating the situation to implement strategies for future prevention of similar outages. Schau reiterated, "Vi fikk koblet ut anlegget på Strømmen, og sendt ut mannskap for å fikse feilen.”
This incident serves as an important reminder of the modern dependence on stable power supplies, particularly as the winter season begins. The community response has been marked by appreciation for the prompt efforts of service teams, yet there remains considerable concern about the vulnerabilities within the electrical systems, especially with homes reliant on electric heating and lighting during the longest nights of the year.
Public sentiment revealed both frustration and camaraderie among neighbors, as many shared stories of waiting together for power restoration. Although the outage presented inconvenience and unease, it also illustrated communal resilience. Groups came together to discuss solutions, sharing emergency preparedness tips to face the winter months more securely should outages occur again.
With the days growing shorter, the need for reliable energy sources is ever more apparent, and officials from Elvia continue to urge the public to reach out with any unresolved issues as they navigate the aftermath of the outage.
