1. Why are power outage schedules introduced?
Due to constant hostile shelling of critical infrastructure not only in the Kharkiv region, but also in other regions of Ukraine, the United Energy System has faced at least two serious problems: grid imbalance due to damage to energy equipment and insufficient generation of electricity.
The power grid of the Kharkiv region suffered the most from enemy attacks, so it is currently operating in extreme conditions. Even when there is no electricity shortage in the country, the electrical equipment currently in operation in our region is simply not able to transmit the necessary volumes to provide electricity to all consumers. This affects not only household but also industrial facilities.
Constant shelling by Russian troops in various parts of the Kharkiv region leads to new damage to the power grid, which forces power engineers to disconnect certain lines in order to carry out emergency and restoration work. There are days when the accidents overlap, and then there may be no light for longer than usual. These are forced measures.
Outages are necessary to stabilize the power system. They prevent even more large-scale and chaotic outages, which would take a long time to resolve.
In order to avoid automation from being triggered due to overload or to carry out repair work on high-voltage lines and substations, emergency or hourly outage schedules are introduced.
2. What are GAV and HPV and how do they differ?
GAV is an emergency shutdown schedule. When the Ukrenergo NPP dispatcher sees that consumption will exceed the capabilities of the available generation or network, he gives the order to the distribution network operators, i.e. the regional power companies, to apply the emergency shutdown schedule and informs them of the volume of restrictions in megawatts.
This is not a schedule of planned works, so it does not contain the start and end times of the outage. This is a list of electrical addresses (electricity network nodes) to which outages may be applied, in case of receiving a corresponding instruction from NPC Ukrenergo.
The schedule is implemented within 15 minutes after receiving the relevant order from Ukrenergo. These are operational orders, and the regional power utility does not have information about these outages in advance. That is why we report emergency outages after the fact, when the outage occurred.
GAV is introduced forcibly to avoid a complete disconnection from the power supply of the entire region, or to prevent automatic and uncontrolled power outage of the region (blackout).
The HPW is a schedule of hourly outages. It was introduced on March 25, 2024 to stabilize the operation of the power system. The schedule takes into account the sequence of consumer outages and the need to maintain the distribution of electricity to critical infrastructure facilities. However, the order of introducing queues may be adjusted according to the instructions of the dispatcher of NPC Ukrenergo.
Information about the affiliation of settlements, streets to the hourly outage schedule (HOT) queues, the use of queues with the indication of the hours of the day and the reasons for their introduction may change. However, we try to promptly post all relevant information, including the hourly outage schedule, on our Telegram channel “Kharkivoblenergo⚡️News” (https://t.me/kharkivenergy) and on the official website of JSC “Kharkivoblenergo”.
3. Why introduce GAV if there is HPV?
The hourly outage schedule is not the only method of regulating the load level on the power system. Distribution system operators, in the event of significant emergency outages and on the instructions of NPC Ukrenergo, are forced to increase the number of disconnected subscribers and introduce GAV, special GAV, restrictions on power consumption, electricity, etc.
4. Why should the power outage last up to 3 hours, but I didn't have power for 7 hours?
The decision on the supply of consumers is made by NPC “Ukrenergo”. Only after receiving a command from the regional dispatcher of NPC “Ukrenergo” can specialists of JSC “Kharkivoblenergo” restore the distribution of electricity. If the outage lasted longer than expected, this indicates that the electricity deficit persisted.
It should be noted that the dispatcher of NPP “Ukrenergo” does not see specific consumers or any institutions or establishments on his monitor screen. He sees the volume of consumption in megawatts across the country or in a specific region. If it is necessary to stabilize the network, the regional energy authorities are notified of this decision, and a shutdown occurs.
The duration of outages may also vary because power engineers need time to travel to turn on equipment (so-called operational switching). This time may be extended due to air alarms, as during these alarms personnel must leave power facilities for safety reasons.
5. Why is my house being turned off for the third day in a row, while the neighbor's house has power?
Different houses and even entrances of the same house can be powered by different power lines. Dispatchers do not focus on specific houses, but monitor the excess consumption on each network. Power engineers alternate lines for shutdown, but if some houses do not turn off at all, this indicates the presence of critical infrastructure facilities on the line that powers these houses. For example: a hospital, a water utility, a school, a strategic facility, etc.
In addition, we draw your attention to the fact that electrical equipment is not designed for constant switching on/off. For stable operation, it must operate in an uninterrupted mode. However, today's realities dictate their own conditions. Constant switching negatively affects the equipment's resource, as a result of which additional emergency situations may arise. Therefore, unfortunately, there are cases when in the same area some subscribers are turned off for a longer period of time.
6. How can I plan my day if I don't know exactly when the lights will be turned off and how long the outage will last?
Unfortunately, as long as the war continues and the enemy attacks Ukraine's energy facilities, this issue will remain relevant. If power outages are critical for you, please consider using available household aids: power banks, portable gas stoves, flashlights, lamps with built-in batteries, etc. In addition, there are "points of invincibility" in the city, where there is light and the Internet. Also, in cases where there is no light in your house for a long time, you can arrange a visit with relatives, neighbors or friends who have electricity to cook food or fill a thermos with tea.
Dear consumers!
Once again, we ask you to be understanding about the situation with emergency and hourly outages! We, energy professionals, are just as much Kharkiv residents and residents of the region as you are. And just like you, we wait for hours for the light to come on with our families.
Please be patient and remain calm. The region is supplied with electricity, including according to temporary schemes, and stable operation depends on the power provided by adjacent distribution system operators. That is why it is necessary to save electricity as much as possible during peak load hours: from 07:00 to 11:00 and from 17:00 to 23:00.
We will definitely endure everything and overcome the darkness! Everything will be Ukraine!