Bad weather disrupts power supply to over 300 populated localities - Ukrainian Energy Ministry

MOSCOW. April 3 (Interfax) - Bad weather has disrupted power supply to 337 populated localities, Ukrainian media said, citing a statement by the Energy Ministry on a social network on Wednesday.

It said, for instance, there was no power supply in 180 populated localities in the Kiev region, alongside 58 in the Chernigov region, 48 in the Zhitomir region, 22 in the Khmelnitsky region, 20 in the Dnepropetrovsk region, five in the Cherkassy region, and four in the Kirovograd region.

"Electricians are working to resume power supply to clients as soon as possible," the ministry said.

In addition, a 150kV power transmission line was de-energized in the Dnepropetrovsk region.

The ministry said, at the same time, there is no shortage of electricity and the power grid operates in a stable and balanced manner. Hourly power outage schedules introduced on March 22 are still in effect in Kharkov, where about 230,000 clients had no power supply over the past day, versus 115,000 clients on Wednesday morning. No power supply restrictions are planned in other regions.

Electricity imports are due to reach 5,415 MW/h on Wednesday, half of the Tuesday amount. Exports are planned to resume after several days and total 1,487 MW/h.

Media also quoted DTEK as saying on a social network that its staff had resumed power supply to 113,000 households in 276 populated localities in the Kiev region disrupted by bad weather.

It said DTEK had resumed operation of 125 power transmission lines.

"According to weather forecasts, high winds are possible today again. We are bracing to fix possible damage," the company said.