Russian-occupied Sevastopol introduced new electricity restrictions on October 25 following an overload of the power grid. The utility Sevastopolenergo announced a three-hours-on, three-hours-off schedule, alternating three-hour periods of electricity supply and outages.
The restrictions took effect at 9:03 a.m. on the instructions of a dispatcher at the Black Sea Regional Dispatch Administration.
The company said the measure was necessary to reduce pressure on power networks outside the city and prevent a larger-scale failure.
According to the utility's initial announcement, the restrictions were to apply to consumers in the third and fourth groups until noon.
Sevastopolenergo warned that the peninsula's electricity system remained unstable. Grid operators could introduce additional restrictions and revise the existing schedule if necessary.
The latest measures followed widespread power disruptions that began across Crimea on October 24.
According to the Russian-appointed authorities, the initial outages were connected to damage to major transmission networks outside the peninsula. However, there has been no independent reconstruction of the causes of each incident or the chain of subsequent failures.
Overnight on October 25, Mikhail Razvozhaev, the Russian-appointed head of Sevastopol, said electricity had been restored to almost all districts of the city.
Another overload occurred in the morning, however, prompting authorities to reintroduce restrictions.
Razvozhaev also ordered industrial enterprises and shopping centers to reduce their electricity consumption to ease pressure on the system.
According to Krym.Realii, some districts had faced a stricter schedule the previous day, with two hours of electricity followed by six hours without power.
Switching to a three-hours-on, three-hours-off schedule changes the pattern of restrictions but does not guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply to all consumers. The utility itself warned that additional outages could occur.
Crimea, including Sevastopol, has been under Russian occupation since 2014. Restrictions on electricity supply affect the peninsula's civilian population, utilities and businesses.
Unlike the October 24 reports about the initial power failure, the new development on October 25 was the introduction of a specific rolling blackout schedule following another grid overload.