Results of the 2023-2024 AWP: over 2,200 eliminated emergencies and light in homes of Kyivans
Over the course of winter, DTEK Kyiv Grids specialists have eliminated more than 2,200 emergencies on the city grids. 4 of them were caused by missile strikes. The largest one was on January 2, when more than 250,000 Kyivans were left without electricity. It was eliminated in 4 hours. Overall, the company restored power to 260,000 customers during the AWP. 173 crews of electricians worked daily to ensure reliable operations of the grid and conduct repairs.
“Despite all difficulties, we have prepared the grids for the previous winter, upgrading 770 power facilities – substations, transformers, repairing 229 circuit breakers, which failed most often the previous winter due to application of constant shutdowns, repairing and testing 4,816 cable lines. DTEK was a reliable support for Ukrainians during the previous autumn-winter period. But, unfortunately, recent large-scale destructions of power plants made the situation in the energy industry even more difficult,” – noted DTEK Kyiv Grids CEO Denys Bondar.
According to the head of the company, there is currently a shortage of power generating capacities in the country. Schedules of power shutdowns have been applied in some regions of the country. Vulnerability of the energy system is very high, including in Kyiv. The fact that there are currently no shutdowns in the capital is a result of favorable weather conditions. Upon increase of electricity consumption (fall or rise in temperature), the shortage will be felt even more.
In the event of the worst scenario, the company has developed new schedules of hourly power outages. These schedules have 6 groups instead of 3, as was the case last winter. This allows for optimal application of shutdowns and clearer understanding of time of power outage by the customers. Updated schedules are posted on the DTEK Kyiv Grids website and shall be applied in case of an NPC “Ukrenergo” order.
In order to constantly be in touch with the customers, the company has reliable remote communication channels. One of the most popular ones is Viber or Telegram chatbot. It has over 450,000 subscribers. The company also has a website and a call center for obtaining information and services.
Despite the threats and risks of the martial law, the company is already preparing for the next heating season. In particular, it plans to upgrade 791 power facilities and repair 46 kilometers of the overhead lines. Additionally, DTEK Kyiv Grids will conduct an audit of the available equipment and create a required reserve to be able to continue promptly restoring the grid and restoring electricity to the Kyivans in case of an emergency.
DTEK will continue doing everything possible to provide Ukrainians with electricity despite shelling and missile strikes. In its turn, the company asks Kyivans to consume electricity more reasonably. In particular, rescheduling some of the consumption to a nighttime; installing multi-zone meter; replacing lamps with the economical LED; giving preference to the household appliances with А, А+, А++, А+++ class of energy consumption; refraining from using an air conditioner to heat or cool premises, where you are not currently present; switching lights only where you are present; not using several energy-intensive appliances (iron, kettle, etc.) together simultaneously – switching them on in turns to distribute the load.
Have faith in the energy workers!