Power outage schedules still in place in Ukraine
MOSCOW. July 25 (Interfax) - Hourly power outage schedules will be introduced across Ukraine only from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 25, Ukrainian media outlets said, citing the DTEK energy holding's statement on social said.
The electricity shortage in Ukraine's energy system has declined considerably, DTEK said.
As reported, a 1,000 MW nuclear power plant unit was reconnected to the grid ahead of schedule after maintenance.
The Ukrainian Energy Ministry confirmed at around midday that it does not plan to introduce hourly power outage schedules before 4:00 p.m. and after 10:00 p.m.
The situation in the energy system has improved after one reactor unit was reconnected to the grid almost two weeks ahead of schedule after routine maintenance, it said.
"One more NPP unit was also reconnected to the grid a week ago, even earlier than initially planned," it said.
However, a significant shortage persists in the energy system as over 9 GW of power generation capacity was lost, the ministry said.
Fifty communities in the Khmelnitsky, Volyn and Ternopol regions were without electricity in the morning of July 25 due to adverse weather, it said. A total of 483 communities across Ukraine remain without the power supply for various reasons, including technical malfunctions.
Meanwhile, power consumption in Ukraine dropped 6% below the anticipated level (without taking the power supply limitations into account) on Thursday morning, the Ukernergo power grid operator said.
"This is due to a combination of factors: the heat has abated and electricity consumption in Ukraine has decreased. The power shortage has also declined - a unit at one of the NPPs resumed operation after maintenance, while moderate air temperatures are contributing to a growth of electricity output by solar power plants," Ukrenergo said.
It was reported on Thursday afternoon that the beginning of hourly power outage schedules was shifted from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Ukrainian media reported, citing the distribution system operators (regional power companies), which in turn referred to Ukrenergo's instruction.