Beginning December 16, 2023, Ukraine will introduce new power outage schedules aimed at enhancing energy supply across the nation. The schedules, which will take effect at 01:00, will maintain uniformity across all regions of Ukraine, ensuring consumers experience improved access to electricity during scheduled outages.
According to DTEK, the energy supply company, these new guidelines promise to increase the available hours of electricity. "Графики будут выглядеть и действовать одинаково во всех украинских городах. Количество часов с электроэнергией увеличится. Теперь между выключениями будет минимум 3,5 часа электроснабжения," said the spokesperson for DTEK, reported by Hvylya.
The new system introduces significant changes, allowing operators to manage energy distribution more effectively. Specifically, the consumer groups have been split, so now, when outages occur, only half of each group may face power cuts rather than the entire group. This level of granularity means minimization of inconvenience to the public.
By restructuring the schedules, Ukraine aims to guarantee consumers at least 3.5 hours of electricity between outages— a notable improvement compared to previous schedules. Sergey Kovalenko, CEO of YASNO, emphasized this change, stating, "Такой подход дает 56 часов со светом в течение недели для каждой очереди, в отличие от 38 часов..." This adjustment serves to provide consumers more predictability and reliability when intermittently accessing power during these rolling outages.
Ukrainian authorities have made these changes primarily to respond to the increasing demands on the energy systems after significant attacks by Russian forces targeting energy infrastructure. On December 13, 2023, these assaults led to widespread disruptions, and as per reports by military officials, "Сбито 81 ракету и 80 вражеских БПЛА..." indicating the concrete military threats still persisting.
Nevertheless, authorities caution consumers to remain vigilant. Should there be local accidents or renewed military aggression from adversaries, the implementation of these outage schedules may need to adapt accordingly. DTEK reiterated, "Но нужно понимать, что если произойдут локальные аварии или враг будет уничтожать линии передач, графики для этого региона изменятся. Следите за новостями на официальных страницах Укрэнерго, ДТЭК или вашего оператора системы распределения," highlighting the need for the public to stay informed through official channels.
This strategic overhaul of electricity distribution schedules is more than just about power—it directly affects daily life, productivity, and safety for millions of Ukrainians currently grappling with the fallout from the continuing conflict. The new approach not only aims to optimize the energy supply but also increases transparency and adaptability within the unstable operational framework Ukraine faces.
By deploying these uniform outage schedules, Ukrainian consumers are expected to manage their daily activities with greater efficiency and foresight, armed with the knowledge of when they can expect access to electricity. Today's advancements stand as testaments to the resilience and adaptability of Ukrainian energy systems and their operators under constant pressure.
