DTEK Donetsk Grids adjusts its winter scheduled maintenance plan for the customers’ convenience

Thermal power generation09 February 2022

DTEK Donetsk Grids has adjusted its scheduled maintenance plan for the period until March 1. The company understands that any power cutoff, even short-term, causes discomfort for customers. It is particularly true during the period of low temperatures and weather deterioration that we are seeing now. Maintenance will be carried out only in order to connect new customers to the grids and in case of a critical need for repair upon customers’ requests. Scheduled maintenance plans will be adjusted in case of bad weather or low temperatures.

DTEK Donetsk Grids cares for its customers and develops regional grids. For customers’ convenience, the company will renew networks, build new lines and substations, and perform maintenance of electrical equipment from March to November.

In order to optimize maintenance and reduce power cutoffs, the company:

Schedules different activities in such a way as to do as much as possible at one site at a time. For example, combining remedial work and connection of new customers to a single substation;
Controls activity duration not to exceed 6 hours for maintenance and 8 hours for connection of new customers and performance of overhauls in the winter season;

Besides, company’s employees are now undergoing training and plan to perform future scheduled activities in the 0.4 kV grid without power cutoff.

Let us recall that electrical grids were installed in our region about 50-60 years ago and are in need of an upgrade. Scheduled maintenance of the electrical grids is a condition for reliable and uninterrupted power supply to the customers. Sometimes these activities go along with short-term power cutoffs, required for safe operation on electrical equipment.

For customers’ convenience, DSO warns about such cutoffs via its website at least 5 working days in advance. This information is also available in DTEK Donetsk Grids Viber and Telegram chatbot.

Typically, the company has to cutoff power for short periods in order to:

Perform equipment upgrade or overhaul, ensuring quality and reliable electricity supply. Maintenance, repair and upgrade of electrical grid infrastructure is one of the main regulator approved functions of the Distribution Systems Operators. It effects development of networks, replacement of obsolete components and implementation of innovations. These activities are required to provide reliable and high quality electricity to the customers;
Connect new customers to the grids. This is also a direct responsibility of It is carried out only within the time limits set by the law, regardless of air temperature and seasonality. According to the technology, temporary cutoff is required where a new consumer is connected. DSO is under an obligation to perform these activities and satisfy connection requests under any conditions;
Remove green plants on the line routes. It protects electric power lines from falling branches and line breakdown during bad weather, thus reducing number of blackouts;