Scheduled interruption
As a distribution utility, it is our duty to ensure that electricity is always available for our customers. To accomplish this task, we have to take care of the power network and monitor the working order of all necessary devices. Scheduled interruptions are necessary for power network maintenance and for building a new network. We will always inform you of such interruptions in good time so you would know to plan your daily business. In most cases we will send a preliminary notification via e-mail or SMS 5 days before the scheduled interruption. We will send a repeat notice 2 days before the start of work.
NB! Notifications will not be sent during emergencies like rescue operations and life-threatening situations.
How does notification work?
Before starting work, we will send the customers in the scheduled maintenance area a notification letter indicating the period of maintenance work. The preliminary notification will usually arrive 5 days before the start of work. We send you a repeat notice 2 days before the maintenance work. In general, we inform customers of upcoming work via e-mail.
Example
15th January 2022 at 10:00–14:15, a scheduled interruption takes place at Jõesuu street 3 (network
contract No. 123098765).
The power cut is necessary for overhead line maintenance.
Work will be conducted by OÜ Üks-Kaks-Kolm.
Why is maintenance work necessary?
Maintenance work is necessary to ensure service reliability and the continuous operation of the power network. It helps to prevent faults and endure the safety of the power network. For example, maintenance work includes the maintenance of line passages, during which we clear the line passage of trees and branches that could grow into or fall on the power lines.
The work of the overhead power line corridors must be carried out before the maintenance of the power lines, so that the electricity network specialists have full access to the lines during the planned repair works. At the same time, cleaned overhead power line corridors allow faults to be rectified faster.
What is being done during maintenance work?
During maintenance work, devices are replaced and maintained to endure their continuous work. If waste is produced during maintenance repairs (old poles, etc.), we will take care of their disposal.
When is maintenance work performed?
To ensure safety, we perform network maintenance work in general during the day. During line maintenance, the electrician performing the work has to be able to check what is happening around the work zone, so that cutting trees would not cause danger to the lines, to himself, or to nearby property of the landowner. Sometimes work needs to be performed near a live object or in direct contact with an electrical device or power line, which is also safer to do during the day. During the inspection work, we also check the power network elements. For this we may have to enter the landowner's property, which will not seem as startling in daylight. It must be taken into account that maintenance work is accompanied by some machine noise.
How much say can I have as a landowner?
In most cases maintenance work has to do with repairing or replacing equipment, and the landowner can make no amendment proposals for this. If you wish to move a line, you need to formalise a request for network reconstruction on our homepage.
If line passage maintenance work is planned on your land, you can have a say in the storage of materials and logging waste, i.e. where do you wish the cut trees to be stored on your property.
Suggestions for logging waste storage must be sent to the contact information provided in the notification letter. Make sure to submit these by the time given in the letter.
Which concerns may arise in relation to the maintenance work?
The most common problem for landowners are ruts created in the ground during maintenance work. This can inevitably happen when heavy machinery is used.
Drone overflights
During maintenance work, drones that we use to collect information on network condition may from time to time fly over the landowner's property. We store the data only for internal use and for making further network maintenance decisions.
In using drones, we follow the drone flying principles of the Transport Administration.
Leave us your contact information!
Dear customer! If a power line crosses your property, please leave us your contact information so we could inform you of maintenance work in good time. This way you will always be aware of the necessary information and we can on our side ensure an understanding and smooth cooperation.
You can update your contact information in the self-service.
What is being done during maintenance work?
During line passage maintenance, bushes are cleared from underneath the lines and trees are felled within the power network protection zone.
Widths of line passages:
Logging waste from line passage maintenance is stored in swathes (stacks of logging waste along the line passage). The cleared material belongs to the landowner.
In general, we do not cut trees in densely populated settlements. Maintained fruit trees, thujas, hedges and other plants can grow, provided they are not dangerous to the line and are not located in the protection zone. The regular maintenance cutting of trees and bushes helps to avoid that we would have to greatly cut them back ourselves. You can do a lot here as a landowner. If the fruit trees and hedges and bushes are not maintained, we will still have to crop them to ensure line safety.
Which concerns may arise in relation to the maintenance work?
The most common problem for landowners are ruts created in the ground during maintenance work. This can inevitably happen when heavy machinery is used. If ruts have been created, we will discuss this and find a suitable solution for restoring the original state. For example, we can fill the damaged ground with soil and plant grass seeds. We will definitely agree in advance on the best time to perform the work. For example, we will not perform work on cereal fields before harvest.
It has also happened that the information in the notification letter will be unclear for the landowner. Due to this we stress again that the purpose of the notification letter is to notify you of upcoming work. We await the landowner's feedback on the storage of logging waste. The notification letter does not provide that the work is only performed if the landowner gives their authorisation.
Law regarding maintenance work
Scheduled interruption:
Regulation No. 42 of 06.04.2005 of the Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Quality Requirements for Network Services and the Conditions for Reducing Network Charges in case of Breaches of Those Requirements
§3. Requirements for customer service
(1) The requirements for customer service make provision for a list of the operations required in order to provide the service, and the time-limits for those operations.
Notification of a scheduled interruption to the market participant concerned must take place at least 2 days before the scheduled interruption.
§4. Requirements for the security of supply
(8) Unless otherwise agreed with the market participant in respect of their point of consumption, the permissible annual duration of scheduled interruptions for any point of consumption is up to 64 hours.
