Tips from DTEK Dnipro Grids: How to Keep the Lights on in the Heat

Thermal power generation23 June 2021

According to the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, hot weather with over +32°C heatwaves is expected within Dnipro and the region in the next 5 days. Because of such hot weather, residents are using cooling home appliances quite extensively, and thus overloading the network. DTEK Dnipro Grids here gives some tips on how to keep the lights on when the temperature stays high.

One common issue during heatwaves are blackouts from overloaded electric grids. A lot of customers are turning on energy-consuming home appliances (air conditioners, climate systems) all at once. Thus, such appliances operate at full capacity in high temperatures and often exceed the design capacity of indoor and outdoor networks. As a result, the power lines fail, shutdowns occur, and residents of the Dnipro and the region are left without power.

“DTEK serves the Ukraine’s interests, takes care of its customers and does everything to ensure that their homes always have lights on and comfort. DTEK Dnipro Grids systematically renews the region's energy infrastructure and upgrades equipment. But we cannot guarantee a reliable power supply if customers exceed the design capacity of the network. This provokes failures and shutdowns. To avoid them, please, use your electricity more rationally. Especially in hot weather,” says Andrii Tereshchuk, CEO of DTEK Dnipro Grids.

This is especially true for old buildings, where indoor and outdoor networks (electrical lines, transformers, etc.) were designed and built bearing in mind a minimum set of home appliances. People have many energy-intensive equipment these days, including powerful climate systems. Thus, we face the situation that the networks cannot withstand it. Especially during peak consumption hours and during periods of extreme temperatures.

Below are some tips from DTEK Dnipro Grids on how to keep your lights on in the heat:

When buying electrical equipment, choose energy efficiency class of A, A+, A++, A+++;
Do not turn on all energy-consuming devices in your home all at once;
If there are several air conditioners in the house, turn it on only in the room where you stay. Remember that in hot weather the temperature difference outside the window and inside the house should not exceed 10°C;
Upgrade electrical networks in your own apartments and houses;
Remember that the electrical networks of your apartment and the house are designed for the consumption of a certain amount of electrical power. The power might shut down if you exceed this value. The exact number is given in your distribution agreement with DTEK Dnipro Grids;
Have an electrician's contacts close at hand. If there is a failure because of an in-house problem, then it should be solved by a person responsible for the in-house networks (management company, condominium, owner);

If the power shuts down because of overload: turn off all energy-consuming devices and turn on the automatic circuit-breaker. If the electricity continues to knock out, please, contact an electrician. Do not try to fix it yourself, it is dangerous!

You can report a shutdown and any other network failure using the company website, by phones (056/066/067) 790 99 00, via Facebook or chatbot on Viber and Telegram (see our video tutorial on how to use them).