Everyday consumers in Kiev have electricity for 4-6 hours per day due to emergency blackouts - DTEK's Kiev branch

MOSCOW. Nov 29 (Interfax) - Emergency blackouts are continuing in Kiev on orders from the Ukrenergo national grid operator in order to balance the energy system and to avoid equipment breakdowns, Ukrainian media said, citing DTEK's Kiev branch.

According to data from the company, 58% of the amount of electricity being provided by the operator is being used to supply critical infrastructure, such as hospitals, pumping and heat supply stations, with only 42% left for everyday consumers.

"We are doing everything possible to provide power to every customer for 2-3 hours twice a day. As soon as we manage to balance the situation, we will return to scheduled power cuts," DTEK's Kiev branch said.

As reported, the national system's power capacity deficit had increased to 27% by Monday morning, as compared to 20% as of Sunday morning. The reason behind the power capacity deficit growth is that power units at several power plants had to conduct emergency shutdowns, while demand for electricity has been rising as adverse weather has set in.

At the same time, according to Ukrainian media reports, the heating season has begun in Ukraine. Media outlets said, citing Naftogaz of Ukraine, that "99.7% of boiler facilities have been launched, and heat is being supplied to 99.6% of residential buildings, 97.9% of kindergartens, 98.9% of schools, and 99.9% of healthcare establishments [...] At the same time, the main objective today is to ensure the continuous operation of these facilities and to promptly repair all damage."

A total of 316 heat supply facilities, or 53.3% of the overall number of such facilities that have been damaged, have already been restored, Naftogaz of Ukraine said.