EDP Distribuição informs that as a result of the work carried out today almost all of the electricity supply was restored to several locations in the districts of Bragança, Vila Real and Viseu affected by the weather conditions of last night. The weather brought down a significant of poles and lines of high and medium voltage from excess weight, due to a phenomenon known as icicles.
The operational teams, reinforced by technicians posted from the regions of Portalegre, Santarém, Aveiro and Coimbra, have faced snow, ice and wind, which has made it extremely difficult to carry out the work on the distribution grid, since many roads are impassable due to snow and ice, as well as due to felled trees.
So far, 27 emergency generators and 2 mobile power plants have been connected. Other equipment can be connected as soon as the roads offer the minimum safety conditions for vehicles to travel. The collaboration of the Civil Protection Authority and the GNR police force has been instrumental in enabling the teams to travel safely.
To ensure supply in exceptional situations, special attention was given to the connections of priority customers and essential public services, such as water lifting stations, IPSS social welfare institutions and telecommunications antennas. The most complicated situation is in Miranda do Douro with several broken lines.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, we will do everything to restore the electricity supply in this locality in the shortest possible time.
NOTE: We warn all people in areas affected by the storm to avoid touching any broken lines for safety reasons, and also to take care when using generators in poorly ventilated areas, since their improper use may lead to gas poisoning.
