Hotline of power engineering specialists:
In connection with the received poor forecast and subsequent sharp deterioration in the weather on Sunday 1 February 2015 IDGC of Centre - Lipetskenergo division was put on high alert operation mode. All power facilities in the service area of the grid company got enhanced monitoring of equipment, all duty crews are provided with necessary tools and materials and ready in the shortest time possible to eliminate consequences of technological failures.
1 February the Lipetsk region was covered with prolonged precipitation in the form of sleet and rain, accompanied by wind gusts up to 22 m/s. Adverse weather phenomena led to technological disturbances in the electric grid complex of Lipetskenergo. Dozens of transformer substations, 2 conductors of 110 kV, 1 conductor of 35 kV, 60 conductors of 6-10 kV, and 46 conductors of 0.4 kV had damage from the disaster hits. The worst storm affected Griazinsky and Dobrovsky districts.
44 first responding mobile crews composed of 134 people started immediately eliminating the effects of natural phenomena, with the involvement of 6 special vehicles, including two autonomous diesel generator sets. As a result of their operational and professional actions already by the morning on 2 February disconnected consumers were powered by back-up supply sources.
However, the adverse weather factors in the territory continue to persist and intensify in some places, which lead to new power failures. According to weather forecasts, this weather will last at least another two days.
Currently, 20 crews of 50 people and 20 special vehicles are involved in first responding and restoration operations. Operators of Distribution Zones promptly inform the Grid Control Centre of the branch of facts of icing on the equipment and risks of unscheduled outages.
Operational headquarters of responsible managers and specialists of IDGC of Centre are on the around the clock duty, information exchange on the availability of the emergency reserve and restoration staff was organized.
For consumers the around the clock "straight line" phone number at 8 -800-50-50-115 operates.