Power outages in winter: Uzbek grid operator explains planned cuts and preparations

About 35% of electricity consumers in Uzbekistan used more than 200 kWh in August, according to a press conference held on 8 October with the leadership of the Regional Electric Networks. Gazeta reported that the country has 8,344,000 electricity consumers in total, of whom 5,682,000 used up to 200 kWh in August, 1,135,000 used 200-300 kWh and 354,000 used over 300 kWh.

Head Sardor Isakulov said high-risk facilities are identified at the start of the year and classified as red, yellow or green. Repairs at red-category facilities were to be completed by August and at yellow-category ones by 1 October. Daily electricity consumption now reaches 200 million kWh, and 843 billion sums have been allocated for the autumn-winter season. Repairs may require temporary outages affecting transformer points linked to a line.

Planned outages will be announced to consumers a day or two in advance via Telegram under a digitalisation plan being developed with Uzinfocom, which Isakulov said would take two to three months. Short planned outages may occur in Tashkent's Olmazor, Chilonzor and Mirzo Ulugbek districts this season. Isakulov also said accidents can be caused by strong winds, vehicles striking poles and unauthorised digging, and that some outages can be restored within 15-20 minutes.