DTEK Donetsk Grids returned power supply to all settlements of the region after weather-related outages

Thermal power generation11 June 2021

All settlements of the region that lost their power after severe weather have lights on again. Within the week, DTEK Donetsk Grids restored operation of 121 power lines, and 1,151 transformer substations. The company is still on high alert to prevent weather-related outages and eliminate possible accidents.

“DTEK serves the Ukraine’s interests, takes care of its customers and does everything to ensure that their homes always have lights on, and, thus, comfort. DTEK Donetsk Grids energy workers worked 24/7 to fully restore power supply in the affected cities and towns. Over the last day, we have returned the electricity to 6 settlements. In total, in a week of severe weather, we restored power supply to 97 settlements of the region. And this counts more than 80,000 of our customers. More than 90 repair teams were involved in emergency recovery work every day,” says Oleksii Degtyarev, CEO at DTEK Donetsk Grids.

Severe weather lasted two weeks with short breaks in Donetsk Region, and affected almost all areas of the region. Despite rainfalls, strong winds, sometimes hail, DTEK's emergency crews and dispatchers were working 24/7. During this time, the energy company returned electricity to 294 settlements, restored the operation of 357 power lines, 3,719 transformer substations. Above everything else, our energy workers restored the operation of high-voltage lines supplying the bulk of customers. The priority was given to medical facilities and support points for the COVID-19 patients treatment, and facilities that ensure the life of cities and towns. It was difficult to do the emergency recovery work because of almost daily thunderstorms and downpours. In such conditions, it was impossible to complete certain types of works, because there were life and health hazards.

Settlements in Volnovakhsky, Bakhmutsky, Mariupol Districts were affected the most. Difficult weather conditions led to emergencies in electrical equipment, breakage of power lines due to falling trees and, as a result, blackout of many customers. In Pokrovsk, it was necessary to restore the operation of two main lines and five high-voltage cable lines supplying the entire central part of the city and the private sector. Meanwhile, hail challenged recovery work in the Kramatorsk and Kramatorsk Districts.

The highest amount of precipitation was in Mariupol. According to local forecasters, on June 8, their daily amount exceeded the monthly mean value and became a record in 30 years. Due to the critical flooding of the area, the Port-35 kV substation had to be de-energized to prevent damage to the equipment. Its work was restored after preventive maintenance and drying of equipment with heat guns.

Learn how the Port-35 kV substation was restored here.

Information about outages can be checked using the DTEK Donetsk Grids chatbot on Viber or Telegram, as well as on the company's website in the section "Scheduled and emergency outages". If your address is there, the energy workers know about the blackout. If you did not find your address, leave a message on the company's website in the same section, or call the call center (0629) 450 473, (093/096/099) 4500473, or message the DTEK Donetsk Grids via Facebook.

See our short video tutorial on how to find your address in the list of emergency/planned outages on the company's website.