OREANDA-NEWS. All day 16.04.2015, the Smolensk region was under the influence of strong wind and rain, which led to the disruption of electricity supply in all districts of the region. Power engineers of IDGC of Centre - Smolenskenergo division are continuously performing emergency repair work and has powered the majority of interrupted grid equipment.

"Emergency and restoration work in Distribution Zones of Smolenskenergo began at dawn and will continue until nightfall. They are accompanied by wind gusts up to 25 m/s and accidents on the roads because of bad weather. Until the end of the day the branch’s specialists will complete restoring the main part of interrupted power supply to consumers in the region, but the weather conditions have not yet improved, so we are preparing for possible power interruptions," commented Deputy General Director of IDGC of Centre - Smolenskenergo division director Sabir Agamaliev.

As a result of advertising structures, parts of roofs ripped by the wind, and fallen trees power lines were broken, leading to disruption of power supply to consumers of the Smolensk region. Total for the day there were 8 interruptions of power lines of 110 kV, 21 interruptions of power lines of 35 kV, and at different times during the day 90 failures of 0.4-6-10 kV were restored. Such large-scale interruptions are associated with worsening weather conditions throughout the region. Wind breaks wires and poles. The south and east of the region are mostly affected by the disaster, but the socio-important facilities thanks to the coordinated and timely work of power engineers functioned without interruption, including through the use of redundant power supply sources.

Readiness for the liquidation of process violations and conducting first responding and restoration operations is provided by first responding mobile and repair crews of Distribution Zones and power lines services of Smolenskenergo. During the day 87 crews (261 people) and 101 vehicles, including special, were involved in the restoration work.

Smolenskenergo’s power engineers continue collecting actual weather data in the vicinity of large power facilities, organized more frequent control of operation of equipment of substations, operating personnel readiness was ensured to conduct first responding and restoration operations. The branch convened headquarters and was put on high alert.

We remind you that IDGC of Centre operates the twenty-four hours direct line of power engineers at 8 800 50 50 115, calling which you can get information on the progress of restoration work and estimated time of completion. Also during the day there are 26 temporary information centres (about 70 people) in all Distribution Zones of Smolenskenergo, employees of which take customers’ requests. Many of them will be deployed until the complete restoration of electricity supply.