Over the winter, DTEK Donetsk Grids cleared almost 170 kilometers of power lines from branches in order to prevent emergencies

The energy company is now directing all its resources on performance of emergency and restoration activities after shelling and does not conduct scheduled activities. However, shelling is not the only thing that leaves residents of the region without electricity. Bad weather, wind and thickets around power lines frequently damage the grids . Therefore, despite difficult situation in the region, energy workers carry out clearing of the power line routes from branches, thus reducing the risk of grids damage not related to the hostilities. Over the winter, energy workers in the Donetsk region cleared 155.9 kilometers of 0.4-10 kV lines that directly power residential buildings and another 12 kilometers of 35-110 kV high voltage lines that ensure power supply to entire towns and districts. This is mainly required to prevent tree branches from falling on the wires during bad weather. 

“Falling of trees and contact of branches with wires is one of the causes of power outages. Despite putting all our efforts into restoration of the grids, damaged by hostilities, we are also clearing the most critical overhead line routes, as we care about safety of people and reliable power supply. We are doing everything possible to provide electricity to homes of local residents,” – noted the company. 

In accordance with the Rules of grids protection, planting trees underneath power lines is prohibited. Therefore, if there are any, residents of the detached house suburbs must timely prune trees, close to the power lines in order to prevent emergencies. This requires submitting a request for disconnection of the line, agreeing time and only then pruning the trees in the radius of at least one meter from the line. 

Performance of these works requires submitting a request to local authorities, who, in their turn, will forward it to the Distribution System Operator – DTEK Donetsk Grids. The DSO will determine date and time of the overhead line de-energization to ensure safe work performance. Or you can inform the company via its Facebook page or call center: +38 (063/096/099) 450 0 473, however, it may take more time due to the large number of calls.