In the context of ongoing attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, residents are facing the necessity of living according to power outage schedules. Many are asking: why does electricity disappear not in individual apartments, but in entire neighborhoods, and why sometimes there is power in one building while the neighboring entrance has none. Energy experts explain the logic behind these processes.
Disconnecting energy facilities, not houses
The key principle of distribution systems is that operators disconnect not specific residential buildings, but the energy facilities that supply them — transformer substations or power lines. One such facility may supply either a single building or several, so disconnection affects entire groups of buildings at once.
Sometimes, even within a single building, different entrances may operate on different schedules. This happens because they are powered by different transformer substations. Also, in some cases, due to network configuration specifics or damaged conditions, groups of buildings must be disconnected simultaneously.
Automation and load balancing
Outage distribution occurs automatically using special software that operates according to approved queues. The task of distribution system operators is to deliver electricity for the maximum number of hours possible under existing constraints, maintaining balance between queues so that everyone receives approximately the same amount of time with power.
Outages are applied only to the volume of electricity needed to balance the energy system. Schedules are applied uniformly to all buildings and streets — exceptions are possible only for critical infrastructure objects officially included in a special list by the regional military administration, and buildings connected to the same line.
Individual schedules and backup schemes
Each address has an individual schedule, formed separately — tailored to a specific building and its technical capabilities to receive electricity. Last winter in Kyiv, as a result of numerous Russian shelling of the energy system, precisely such individual power-on schedules were introduced.
Over more than 4 years of full-scale war, energy workers have already switched all such buildings to backup schemes where technically feasible. This has allowed minimizing the impact of attacks on household consumers and ensuring stability where possible.
Increasing number of attacks and consequences
Russian occupiers began attacking Ukraine's energy facilities in groups of 20–25 drones simultaneously. As a result, the number of strikes this year has increased by more than a third. Such massive attacks create colossal strain on the system, forcing energy workers to make difficult decisions regarding resource distribution.
Despite the difficulties, specialists continue working to ensure the maximum possible stability of electricity supply, even under conditions of constant threats and destruction.
