Power outages will continue throughout the winter, - expert

Power outages will continue throughout the winter, - expert

In Ukraine, power outages will continue throughout the winter, but their duration will depend on weather conditions and the speed of restoration. Up to 4 weeks are needed to stabilize the power system in the absence of new attacks.

This was stated to OBOZ.UA by the director of the Energy Research Center, Oleksandr Kharchenko. Although the situation in the power system remains challenging, it is still manageable. Many infrastructure facilities have been damaged, complicating the stable supply of electricity.

However, repair crews are actively working on restoration. The main focus is on ensuring electricity from nuclear power plants, which remain the backbone of the energy system. "Currently, restoration work is underway in places where it can be carried out quickly and effectively," said Oleksandr Kharchenko.

It is expected that under favorable conditions, the situation will improve in the coming days, and by mid-week, outages may be reduced to two stages. This year, winter will bring frequent power outages to Ukrainians.

Even under the most optimistic scenarios, some inconveniences should be expected. In case of successful restoration of the energy network, short-term outages lasting 2-4 hours a day are possible. However, under worsening weather conditions or new attacks, this time may increase to 12-16 hours a day.

Kharchenko emphasizes that the risk of a large-scale blackout remains low. "I do not see any reason to believe that a real national-scale cascading failure is possible," he noted. At the same time, the expert stresses that outages will remain a reality throughout the winter, even in the event of positive developments.

Ukraine’s energy system is operating at the edge of its capabilities, but its gradual recovery is ongoing. According to experts’ forecasts, about two weeks are needed to utilize all available capacities. To return to a more stable operating mode where the system can withstand load without critical risks, at least 3-4 weeks are necessary.

Three Ukrainian nuclear power plants – Khmelnytskyi, Rivne, and South Ukraine NPPs – have reduced electricity production due to damage to high-voltage networks. These networks are responsible for the transmission of electricity to consumers, and their restoration is a priority task. It is expected to take from one week to one and a half weeks.

Despite the reduction in generation volumes, overall system stability has been maintained thanks to power redistribution and the use of reserves. The energy system will operate under load throughout the winter season. Experts and authorities urge citizens to save electricity, especially during the evening peak hours, to help reduce the load on the network.