Last weekend, a storm hit Odesa Oblast, knocking out more than 3.1 thousand power lines, de-energizing more than 8 thousand transformer substations and leaving 596,000 people in 883 settlements without electricity. DTEK's power engineers are working around the clock to bring electricity back to the homes of the region's residents. DTEK Odesa Power Grids CEO Dmytro Grigoriev said this during a briefing, UNN reports.
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According to him, the bad weather damaged every district of the region, but Izmail, Bilhorod-Dnistrovsky and Odesa districts suffered the most.
"The amount of work was very large. Our guys have already repaired 3,40 overhead lines, put 7,601 transformer substations into operation and restored electricity to 570 customers in 774 settlements.
I would like to thank all levels of government, the military authorities, and the military administrations of Odesa region for their help in speeding up the process. We worked together, in a coordinated manner. They cleared the snow. They provided us with heavy equipment so that we could drive where there was no way through.
I would also like to thank the Odesa City Council for their coordinated work.
And to the rescuers - for the rescue boat, thanks to which our guys got to the high-voltage power line last night and repaired it," he said.
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Grigoryev also told what difficulties power engineers face during their work.
"The most difficult situation is the problem of access. We have a lot of lines in rural areas that run near greenery strips that break and fall on the lines.
Therefore, the main problem is access, and we solved it together with local governments.
They provided us with equipment, tried to pull our equipment out. We got stuck together, and the military came to help us, pulling us and those who came to help us out.
And the weather conditions. Today in Odesa the sun is shining and there is no wind, but in Izmail district there are still 2-meter snowdrifts," he said.
To speed up the restoration of power supply, DTEK has engaged contractors. They are currently working in Izmail, Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi and Odesa districts.
"We have deployed additional resources from contractors and engaged 7 crews from Podolsk district where the situation has already been stabilized. As of today, 2 teams from Mykolaivoblenergo have come to our aid, and 2 more from Odesa city lights.
Together we are bringing the time closer for all customers to have electricity," he emphasized.
Grigoriev also appealed to the residents of Odesa region to be patient and not to participate in protests.
As a reminder, several streets in Odesa were recently blocked due to the lack of electricity.
"I urge you not to do this. I understand the dissatisfaction that there is no power for a long time, but this will not speed up the restoration of electricity supply.
Please be patient. We will not finish working until all our customers have electricity," Grigoryev said.
We would like to add that the press service of Izmail Regional Electricity Administration reported that there is indeed snow in the fields, so it is difficult for power engineers to reach the damaged power lines. They have to use agricultural machinery and lifts.