# Grid operator urges Ukrainians to save electricity as temperatures drop Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2023-01-06 Category: LIFESTYLE Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/lifestyle Meta Title: Ukraine Urges Citizens to Save Electricity Amid Energy Crisis Meta Description: Ukraine's power grid operator issues plea for electricity saving as Russian air strikes cause damage, blackouts, and heating shortages. Stay tuned for URL: https://financedigest.com/grid-operator-urges-ukrainians-to-save-electricity-as-temperatures-drophtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2023-01-06t114058z3lynxmpej050bwrtroptp4ukraine-crisis-energy-1736814613474-compressed.jpg) By Olena Harmash KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine’s power grid operator issued a new appeal to civilians to save electricity on Friday as temperatures fell and energy consumption rose, threatening new strains on a network devastated by Russian air strikes. Russian missile and drone attacks on energy infrastructure since October have caused widespread damage that has led to winter blackouts and shortages of heating and water. After hovering at around 10 degrees Celsius (50°F) during an unseasonably warm spell [since New Year](https://www.financedigest.com/japans-emperor-gives-first-public-new-years-greeting-since-2020.html "Japan’s emperor gives first public New Year’s greeting since 2020"), temperatures are now falling. [Forecasters say](https://www.financedigest.com/publisher-bloomsbury-casts-upbeat-forecast-says-books-affordable-pastime.html "Publisher Bloomsbury casts upbeat forecast, says books ‘affordable pastime’") they could soon plunge to -11°C in Kyiv and to -18°C in eastern Ukraine. In the near future, a significant [drop in temperature is expected](https://www.financedigest.com/dollar-drops-as-inflation-cools-more-than-expected.html "Dollar drops as inflation cools more than expected"), which will lead to a rapid increase in consumption,” state-run energy company and grid operator Ukrenergo said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app. The energy system is currently unable to fully cover it due to the damage and the enemy’s occupation of a number of power [plants that produce electricity](https://www.financedigest.com/stellantis-to-invest-130-million-euros-in-german-plant-for-new-opel-electric-car.html "Stellantis to invest 130 million euros in German plant for new Opel electric car"), in particular, and the most powerful – the Zaporizhzhia NPP (nuclear power plant). It added: “Please use electricity wisely, alternate the use of energy-intensive appliances. It helps reduce the load on the [power system](https://www.financedigest.com/telecom-tower-power-system-market-is-expected-to-reach-us6-7-bn-by-2031.html "Telecom Tower Power System Market is expected to reach US.7 Bn by 2031.") and reduce the need to limit consumption. Prime [Minister Denys Shmyhal told a government meeting on Friday that Ukraine should expect Russian](https://www.financedigest.com/permitted-share-of-chinas-yuan-in-russian-wealth-fund-doubled-to-60-finance-minister.html "Permitted share of China’s yuan in Russian wealth fund doubled to 60% -Finance Minister") attacks and emergency outages. Russia, which invaded Ukraine last February, says it regards [energy facilities as legitimate military targets](https://www.financedigest.com/schneider-and-greenyellow-target-smaller-businesses-with-energy-saving-technology.html "Schneider and GreenYellow target smaller businesses with energy saving technology"). [Ukraine and its allies say attacks](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-says-russia-on-brink-of-ukraine-attack-after-separatist-plea-for-help.html "U.S. says Russia on brink of Ukraine attack after separatist plea for help") on civilian infrastructure could be war crimes. Cities across Ukraine, including Kyiv, are undergoing scheduled blackouts to [reduce the strain on the electrical grid during peak usage](https://www.financedigest.com/britains-ofgem-to-urge-public-to-reduce-energy-usage-ft.html "Britain’s Ofgem to urge public to reduce energy usage – FT") hours. Ukrenergo said it was working with electricity [producers and distributors](https://www.financedigest.com/producers-distributors-aggregators-mobey-forum-charts-strategic-options-for-banks-in-the-post-psd2-age.html "Producers, Distributors, Aggregators: Mobey Forum Charts Strategic Options for Banks in the Post-PSD2 Age") to restore damaged facilities but that the repairs took up a lot of resources and time because of the complexity and scale of the damage. Ukraine’s Soviet-era [power system cannot be fixed easily as energy](https://www.financedigest.com/france-strains-to-avert-power-cuts-as-cold-snap-tests-europes-energy-resolve.html "France strains to avert power cuts as cold snap tests Europe’s energy resolve") operators need vast quantities of equipment. Businesses and residents have bought tens of thousands of generators to ensure [electricity supplies](https://www.financedigest.com/ceo-steers-electric-truck-startup-rivian-through-supply-chain-twilight-zone.html "CEO steers electric truck startup Rivian through supply chain twilight zone"). Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a parliamentary deputy, said on Telegram that 669,400 generators were [imported into Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-to-suspend-tariffs-on-ukraine-imports-for-one-year-kyiv-grateful.html "EU to suspend tariffs on Ukraine imports for one year, Kyiv grateful") in 2022, with deliveries peaking at 309,400 units in December. (Additional reporting by Dan Peleschuk, Editing by Timothy Heritage) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---