rolling blackout

Rolling blackouts are a common or even a normal daily event in many developing countries,{{cite journal |last1=Agarwal |first1=Anshul |last2=Khandeparkar |first2=Kedar |date=June 2021 |title=Distributing power limits: Mitigating blackout through brownout |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352467721000229 |journal=Sustainable Energy, Grids and Networks |volume=26 |page=100451 |doi=10.1016/j.segan.2021.100451 |bibcode=2021SEGN...2600451A |s2cid=233918608 |access-date=14 June 2022}} where electricity generation capacity is underfunded or infrastructure is poorly managed. In well managed under-capacity systems blackouts are planned and schedules are published in advance to allow people to work around them. In poorly managed systems they happen without warning, typically whenever the transmission frequency falls below the 'safe' limit.

These have wide-ranging impacts, and can effect the expectations of communities. For example, in Ghana dumsor describes the widespread expectations for intermittent unexpected power outages due to rolling blackouts.

In 2021, Iran regularly conducted large blackouts nationwide.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/01/16/massive-blackouts-have-hit-iran-government-is-blaming-bitcoin/|title=Massive blackouts have hit Iran. The government is blaming bitcoin mining.|first=Miriam|last=Berger|date=2021-01-16|newspaper=The Washington Post}}

In July 2024, the government started 4 hour per day blackouts affecting homes and industries despite 40 degrees Celsius heat waves, and the severity of power shortages exceeded worst case scenario predictions.{{cite web | url=https://www.khabaronline.ir/amp/1930515/ | title=قطع بی‌سابقه برق در خیابان میرزای شیرازی/ مسئولان پاسخ روشن نمی‌دهند - خبرآنلاین }}{{cite web | url=https://www.asriran.com/fa/news/980496/%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87-%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%B3-%DA%A9%D9%85%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%AF-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%82-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%AC%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%B1%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%DB%8C-%DB%B4%DB%B5-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%AC%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%82-%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%86%DA%AF%DB%8C-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%B9-%D9%85%DB%8C%E2%80%8C%DA%A9%D9%86%D9%86%D8%AF | title=نماینده مجلس : کمبود برق به جایی رسیده در دمای بالای ۴۵ درجه ، برق خانگی را قطع می‌کنند }}{{cite web | url=https://www.entekhab.ir/fa/news/804493/%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1%D9%81-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%82-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%A8%D8%AF%D8%A8%DB%8C%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D8%AA%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%88%DB%8C-%D9%BE%DB%8C%D8%B4%E2%80%8C%D8%A8%DB%8C%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%87-%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%B9%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%B1-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF | title=توانیر: مصرف برق از بدبینانه‌ترین سناریوی پیش‌بینی شده هم عبور کرد }}

On 10 November 2024, the government began reimplementing blackouts nationally.{{cite web | url=https://www.radiofarda.com/amp/resumption-of-power-outage-due-to-mazut-consumption-stoppage/33196078.html | title=شرکت توانیر از قطع برق و آغاز خاموشی‌های زمان‌بندی‌شده خبر داد }}

Remote areas or off-grid areas are the most vulnerable to power supply issues.{{cite news |last1=Galvez |first1=Daphne |title=Rotational brownouts to hit 1.3 million houses in 2023 — DOE |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1723516/1-3m-houses-to-experience-rotational-brownouts-in-2023-energy-officials |access-date=19 June 2024 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=31 January 2023 |language=en}} Areas placed with under yellow and red alerts are subject to rolling blackouts.{{cite news |title='Red Alert Strikes Back' Luzon grid may endure rotational brownouts |url=https://mb.com.ph/2024/4/17/red-alert-strikes-again-luzon-grid-wobbles-anew-into-rotational-brownouts |access-date=19 June 2024 |work=Manila Bulletin |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Mercurio |first1=Richmond |title=Concerns raised over looming energy crisis |url=https://www.philstar.com/business/2023/01/23/2239440/concerns-raised-over-looming-energy-crisis |access-date=19 June 2024 |work=The Philippine Star |date=23 January 2023}}

{{Main articles|South African energy crisis}}

Since 2007, South Africa has experienced multiple periods of rolling blackouts which are locally referred to as load shedding by the state-owned energy company Eskom. This was initially caused by the country's demand for electricity outstripping supply, and as time progressed, later exacerbated by ageing power infrastructure, poor maintenance, and the slow completion of new power stations. It was recently revealed by Eskom's former spokesperson Sikhonathi Mantshantsh, that widespread tender corruption and the sabotage of power infrastructure by employees{{cite news|url=https://mg.co.za/news/2023-01-17-you-are-sabotaging-us-ahead-of-2024-elections-anc-tells-eskom/|title='You are sabotaging us ahead of 2024 elections,' ANC tells Eskom|first=Khaya|last=Koko|date=17 January 2023|work=The Mail & Guardian}}{{cite news|url=https://dailyinvestor.com/energy/19877/eskom-sabotage-of-catastrophic-proportions/#:~:text=Eskom%20executives%20involved%20in%20sabotage,to%20sabotage%20at%20power%20stations.|title=Eskom sabotage of 'catastrophic proportions'|first=Shaun|last=Jacobs|date=12 June 2023|work=Daily Investor}} is one of the primary reasons for continuing load shedding. This has caused severe damage to the South African economy and has played a large part in limiting the country's economic growth.

File:Generators in Dnipro.jpg

In the late 1990s, Ukraine experienced frequent scheduled electricity blackouts throughout the country's power system due to miners' strikes, the destruction of the coal industry in 1991–1996, the hidden privatization of energy companies and barters in the energy industry, which included even nuclear power.{{Cite web |date=2021-01-28 |title=Хроніки енергоолігархії: 20 років залежності - Главком |url=https://glavcom.ua/publications/115069-hroniki-energooligarhiji-20-rokiv-zalezhnosti.html |access-date=2024-11-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128045038/https://glavcom.ua/publications/115069-hroniki-energooligarhiji-20-rokiv-zalezhnosti.html |archive-date=28 January 2021 }}{{Main articles|2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine}}

During the Russian invasion in 2022, Russia conducted multiple attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-31 |title=Russia targets Ukraine energy and water infrastructure in missile attacks |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/31/russian-missiles-kyiv-ukraine-cities |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Ukraine Reports More Russian Strikes on Energy Infrastructure |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/ukraine-reports-russian-strikes-on-energy-infrastructure-/6807571.html |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=VOA |date=27 October 2022 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Sukhov |first=Oleg |date=2022-10-19 |title=Intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine infrastructure unlikely to achieve Kremlin's goals |url=https://kyivindependent.com/national/Russian-attacks-on-Kyiv-energy-infrastructure-might-cause-problems |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=The Kyiv Independent}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-10-31 |title=Another mass attack on Monday morning: Russia hits energy infrastructure across Ukraine |url=https://kyivindependent.com/news-feed/another-mass-attack-on-monday-morning-russias-hits-energy-infrastructure-across-ukraine |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=The Kyiv Independent}} On 23 October 2022, rolling blackouts were introduced in Kyiv and its oblast.{{Cite web |title=Rolling blackouts Kyiv city and oblast intended to stabilize the grid |url=https://english.nv.ua/nation/rolling-blackouts-used-by-kyiv-city-region-to-stabilize-the-power-grid-50278704.html |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=english.nv.ua |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2022-10-20 |title=Rolling blackouts start in Kyiv as Ukrainians urged to save power |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/57fdfbb0-647d-4a22-995f-b33c67d830fd |access-date=2023-04-06}} Rolling blackouts were introduced in all Ukrainian regions on 25 October 2022.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-10-25 |title=Rolling blackouts implemented in all Ukrainian regions on Oct. 25. |url=https://kyivindependent.com/news-feed/rolling-blackouts-implemented-in-all-ukrainian-regions-on-oct-25 |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=The Kyiv Independent}}

In 2024, Ukraine faced another unprecedented energy crisis due to Russia's destruction of energy infrastructure, re-introducing rolling blackouts. Approximately 70% of the country's heating infrastructure was either damaged or under occupation by May 2024.{{Cite web |title=Ukraine's energy system under attack – Ukraine's Energy Security and the Coming Winter – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/ukraines-energy-security-and-the-coming-winter/ukraines-energy-system-under-attack |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}

In the Summer of 2023, with the unprecedented heatwave that hit the country, the Egyptian government announced it would start a scheduled blackout across all major cities for 1 hour per day until the heatwave ended.

However, the blackouts remained well into the winter and were increased to 2 hours per day.

In the Summer of 2024, the temperatures rose even higher and the schedule changed to 3 hours per day with reports of unplanned cuts in Alexandria, Cairo and other cities where some places faced over 6 hours without electricity for 3 days.{{Cite web |last=Nader |first=Jacob Wirtschafter and Mina |date=2024-07-01 |title=Blackouts and Extreme Heat Plague Egypt as Government Extends Rolling Electricity Cuts |url=https://themedialine.org/by-region/blackouts-and-extreme-heat-plague-egypt-as-government-extends-rolling-electricity-cuts/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=The Media Line |language=en-US}}

Rolling blackouts in developed countries sometimes occur due to economic forces at the expense of system reliability,{{Cite web |last=Bonsor |first=Kevin |date=2001 |title=How California's Power Crisis Works |url=https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/conservation/issues/california-power.htm |website=HowStuffWorks |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=The California Crisis |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/blackout/california/ |website=Frontline}} or during natural disasters such as heat waves.{{Cite news |last1=Harvy |first1=Ben |last2=Shepherd |first2=Tory |date=2017-02-08 |title=Rolling Blackouts Ordered as Adelaide Swelters in Heatwave |language=en |work=news.com.au |url=https://www.news.com.au/national/south-australia/rolling-blackouts-ordered-as-adelaide-swelters-in-heatwave/news-story/13394f19db1ee94a59f4036fccdc1ba7}}

After the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the Tokyo Electric Power Company implemented rolling blackouts. Its service area was divided into five blocks and blackouts were implemented from 6:20 to 22:00. The schedule from 15 to 18 March 2011 was as follows:{{Cite press release |title=Implementation Plan of Rolling Blackout on and After Tue, March 15, 2011 |date=14 March 2011 |publisher=Tokyo Electric Power Company |url=https://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/11031406-e.html}}{{Cite web |title=Shūkan Keikaku Teishi Imēji |script-title=ja:週間計画停止イメージ |trans-title=Weekly Planned Outage Image |url=https://www.tepco.co.jp/cc/press/betu11_j/images/110314n.pdf |publisher=Tokyo Electric Power Company |language=ja}}

In California, rolling blackouts during 2000–01 California energy crisis occurred in June 2000, January, March and May 2001,{{cite encyclopedia |title=Obstacles to Energy Efficiency |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Energy |year=2004 |last=Brown |first=Marilyn A. |pages=465–475 |publisher=Elsevier Inc. |doi=10.1016/B0-12-176480-X/00172-8 |isbn=9780121764807 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B012176480X001728 |access-date=14 June 2022 }} and August 2020.{{cite web |last1=Howland |first1=Lena |title=California is less likely to experience rolling blackouts in 2023, officials say |url=https://abc7news.com/california-power-outages-rolling-blackouts-ca-grid-electricity/13304957/ |website=ABC7 San Francisco |access-date=29 May 2024 |language=en |date=27 May 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Penn |first1=Ivan |title=Rolling Blackouts in California Have Power Experts Stumped |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/16/business/california-blackouts.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=29 May 2024 |date=16 August 2020}} The 2021 Texas power crisis involved rolling blackouts caused by the February 13–17, 2021 North American winter storm and lack of winterization.{{Cite web |last=Walsh |first=Dominic Anthony |date=16 February 2021 |title=What's Happening in Texas With the State's Power Grid |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/02/16/968457174/whats-happening-in-texas-with-the-states-power-grid |publisher=NPR}} The Late December 2022 North American winter storm resulted in rolling blackouts in parts of the eastern US.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-23 |title=MLGW: No rolling blackouts after TVA rescinds order |url=https://wreg.com/news/local/rolling-blackouts-coming-due-to-cold-temperature/ |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=WREG.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Javon |last2=Montgomery |first2=Charles |title=Many customers throughout North Alabama experiencing power outages, TVA cancels rolling blackouts |url=https://www.waff.com/2022/12/23/many-customers-throughout-north-alabama-experiencing-power-outages-tva-cancels-rolling-blackouts/ |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=www.waff.com |date=23 December 2022 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-12-23 |title=Thousands of Middle Tennesseans impacted by power outages during dangerous cold |url=https://www.newschannel5.com/news/outages-present-desperate-situation-during-dangerous-cold |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=News Channel 5 Nashville (WTVF) |language=en}}

• 2003 Italy blackout
• 2016 South Australian blackout

Intermittent access to electricity causes major economic problems for businesses, which incur costs in the form of lost resources, reduced patronage, or curtailed production if electrical equipment—for example refrigeration, lighting, or machinery—abruptly stops working.{{Cite web |last=McDonnell |first=Tim |date=24 November 2019 |title=The Powerlessness of Nigeria's Tech Startups |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/11/24/781132932/the-powerlessness-of-nigerias-tech-startups |publisher=NPR}} Businesses in areas that are subject to regular blackouts may invest in backup power generation to avoid these costs, but power backup is itself a cost because generators must be purchased and maintained and fuel must be regularly replenished.

When blackouts are scheduled in advance, they are easier to work around.

The speed at which blackouts roll may be adjusted so that no blackout lasts longer than a certain limit. For instance, in Italy, the [https://www.e-distribuzione.it/it-IT/Pagine/servizio_pesse.aspx/ PESSE] (Piano di Emergenza per la Sicurezza del Sistema Electrico, Emergency plan for national grid safety) does not permit a controlled blackout longer than 90 minutes. In Canada, blackouts have been rolled so that no area had to spend more than one hour without power.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/newfoundland-outages-worsen-amid-sudden-generation-problems-1.2484663 |title=Newfoundland outages worsen amid sudden 'generation problems' |date=5 January 2014 }}{{cite web|last=Gerein |first=Keith |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718080845/http://www.vancouversun.com/news/edmonton/Rolling+electricity+blackouts+strike+Edmonton+across/6906998/story.html |archivedate=18 July 2012|url=http://www.vancouversun.com/news/edmonton/Rolling+electricity+blackouts+strike+Edmonton+across/6906998/story.html |title=Rolling electricity blackouts strike Edmonton and across the province |work=The Vancouver Sun |date=9 July 2012 }}

In some countries, generating capacity is chronically below demand.{{cite web|url=http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200706/1182330309.html |title=Electricity and power shortage holding India back |publisher=Free-press-release.com }}{{cite web|last=Range |first=Jackie |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122513218298172749?mod=googlenews_wsj |title=India Faulted for Failure to Improve Power Supply |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=28 October 2008 }}{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/153085/india-offers-pakistan-electricity-to-curb-load-shedding/ |title=India offers Pakistan electricity to curb load-shedding |work=The Express Tribune |date=20 April 2011 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.nation.com.pk/02-Oct-2011/loadshedding-runs-riots-nationwide |title=Unscheduled loadshedding irks people in Punjab |work=The Nation |date=2 October 2011 }} Assorted factors may prevent adequate investment in generation.{{cite web|url=http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national/&articleid=330672&referrer=RSS |title=Mail and Guardian – Govt chose guns over power stations |publisher=Mg.co.za }} Alternately, generating capacity may temporarily decrease below demand due to power station outages{{cite web |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/dallas/headlines/20110202-cold-cripples-50-power-plants-triggering-blackouts-for-thousands-across-dallas-fort-worth.ece |title=ERCOT may initiate more blackouts Wednesday night, Thursday morning |work=The Dallas Morning News |date=2 February 2011 |access-date=2 February 2011 |archive-date=10 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510231841/http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/dallas/headlines/20110202-cold-cripples-50-power-plants-triggering-blackouts-for-thousands-across-dallas-fort-worth.ece |url-status=dead }} or loss of renewable capacity due to the wind dropping or the sun shining less.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-09/sa-power-what-is-load-shedding-and-why-is-it-happening/8254508|title=SA power: What is load shedding and why is it happening?|newspaper=ABC News |date=9 February 2017 }} Natural disasters can also abruptly reduce supply by damaging power plants. A lack of fuel makes some types of power plant useless.{{cite news|url=http://www.fin24.com/Economy/Tripped-coal-stations-add-to-load-shedding-burden-20141205|title=Tripped coal stations add to load shedding burden|date=5 December 2014|accessdate= 6 December 2014 |work=Business day live}} Industrial accidents and poor maintenance can also take generation capacity offline.{{cite news|url=http://citizen.co.za/269093/video-majuba-power-station-seconds-silo-collapse/|title=Eskom admits another coal-storage silo at Majuba is cracked|date=21 November 2014|accessdate=6 December 2014|work=Business day live|archive-date=11 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211040447/http://citizen.co.za/269093/video-majuba-power-station-seconds-silo-collapse/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://mybroadband.co.za/news/government/115267-this-is-a-catastrophe-electricity-expert.html|title=This is a catastrophe: electricity expert|date=6 December 2014|accessdate= 6 December 2014 |work=Moneyweb}} Conflict can disrupt fuel supply,[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-turns-off-reactor-at-nuclear-plant-after-accident-9947540.html Ukraine turns off reactor at its most powerful nuclear plant after 'accident'], The Independent (28 December 2014)
[https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/25/world/europe/ukraine-briefly-cuts-power-to-crimea-amid-dispute-with-russia-over-nato.html?_r=0 Ukraine Briefly Cuts Power to Crimea Amid Feud With Russia Over NATO], New York Times (DEC. 24, 2014)
[http://itar-tass.com/en/economy/770172 Coal import to help avoid rolling blackouts in Ukraine — energy minister], ITAR-TASS (31 December 2014)
[http://mashable.com/2014/12/03/ukraine-nuclear-plant-accident/ Rolling blackouts in Ukraine after nuclear plant accident]
Mashable (3 Dec 2014)
[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-31/ukraine-to-import-coal-from-far-away-as-war-curtails-mines.html Ukraine to Import Coal From ‘Far Away’ as War Curtails Mines], Bloomberg News (31 Dec 2014) as well as damage or destroy generating and delivery infrastructure.{{Cite news |date=2022-10-29 |title=Ukraine war: Kyiv set for longer power cuts after air strikes |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63435586 |access-date=2022-11-11}}

In electricity grids where power generators are paid a flexible market rate, power suppliers sometimes deliberately keep the generating capacity too low, or fake accidents that take capacity offline, to jack up prices.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/enron-tapes-anger-lawmakers/ |author=Lauren Johnston |title=Enron tapes anger lawmakers |publisher=CBS Evening News |date=2 June 2004}}

Demand spikes can also cause blackouts. Unusually hot{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-08/sa-heatwave-forces-rolling-blackouts-angering-government/8252512|title=SA heatwave forces blackouts to cope with electricity demand, angering Government|newspaper=ABC News |date=9 February 2017 }} or cold weather{{cite web|author=Farangis Najibullah|date=13 January 2008|title=Tajikistan: Energy shortages, extreme cold create crisis situation|work=EurasiaNet|accessdate=2008-02-08|url=http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/pp011308.shtml}}[http://ochaonline.un.org/OchaLinkClick.aspx?link=ocha&docId=1086738 Situation Report No. 4 – Tajikistan – Cold Wave/Compound crisis (25 February 2008)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521063044/http://ochaonline.un.org/OchaLinkClick.aspx?link=ocha&docId=1086738 |date=21 May 2011 }} United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs{{cite web|last=Heinz |first=Frank |url=http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local-beat/Power-Grid-Taxed-Rolling-Blackouts-Ordered-115093224.html |title=Outages Suspended, But Conservation Critical |date=2 February 2011 |publisher=NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth }} can cause demand spikes. Independent system operators may introduce rolling blackouts in anticipation of demand spikes, based on often arbitrary minimum thresholds of electricity reserves.

In the case of South Africa, failing and aged infrastructure, lack of maintenance and alleged corruption in the country's African National Congress-led government in the running of their primary electricity provider, Eskom, is the direct cause of rolling blackouts.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

{{Electricity generation}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rolling Blackout}}

Category:Power outages