Work has begun to repair the damaged power supply at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, with efforts supported by the UN's nuclear watchdog and involving Ukrainian specialists, aiming to restore stable operation after a four-week outage caused by attacks and conflict. Meanwhile, Russia continues its missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, and diplomatic discussions involving US and Russian leaders are ongoing amid the broader conflict.
A truck crash into a power pole on N.C. Highway 98 near Southview Road caused a power outage affecting nearly 2,000 residents during a severe heatwave; power has now been mostly restored, but the highway remains closed until midnight, and residents endured hours without electricity in extreme heat.
Xcel Energy announced that power restoration in Colorado's Front Range could extend into Monday following a windstorm that caused deliberate and accidental outages for over 155,000 customers. The company had initiated a Public Safety Power Shutdown affecting 55,000 customers to reduce wildfire risk, with additional outages caused by windstorm damage. Crews were deployed to visually inspect power lines before re-energizing them, with some customers facing a second day without electricity. Other local electric cooperatives were also addressing outages, and a small fire in the foothills prompted the closure of Highway 36, but was contained to two acres.
Power has been restored to the Tesla Gigafactory near Berlin after far-left activists sabotaged the car factory by cutting its electricity. The repair work to a damaged pylon was completed much faster than expected, allowing production to restart gradually. Environmentalists have been protesting against the expansion of the Tesla factory, which would require clearing a significant area of forest near a water protection zone. The sabotage caused the factory to halt production, costing the company hundreds of millions of euros.
The power supply for Tesla Giga Berlin-Brandenburg has been restored following a suspected arson attack at a power pylon, which caused power outages in the area. The repairs were completed faster than expected, with the facility now working to resume operations. E.DIS and Tesla confirmed the power restoration, marking a significant step forward for the facility. E.DIS managing director celebrated the milestone on LinkedIn, highlighting the extensive work that took place to restore the power supply.
Portland General Electric is dealing with nearly 3,000 outages affecting over 55,000 customers following a wave of freezing rain in the Portland area. With about 1,700 workers striving to restore power, many affected areas have no estimated repair time as of Friday morning. PGE has been actively reaching out to those without power the longest to ensure their safety.
More than 20,000 Appalachian Power customers in West Virginia lost power due to high winds, with restoration efforts expected to extend through the weekend, particularly in areas with more damage. Outages were reported in several counties, with over 500 outside personnel working to assist in restoration. Customers are advised to avoid using high-energy appliances after power is restored, and restoration times are subject to change due to ongoing severe weather threats.
National Grid expects to have power restored for all north country customers by 11:30 p.m. following a wind storm that downed power lines. As of 6 p.m. Thursday, about 5,000 customers were still without power, with significant improvements from earlier in the day. Crews have been facing challenges due to impassable roads and difficult weather conditions, but restoration estimates are being updated on the company's Outage Central site.
Central Maine Power (CMP) hopes to restore power to all its customers by Christmas after tens of thousands of Mainers were left without electricity due to a recent storm. Many residents are facing challenges without power, including damage to homes and vehicles, and the need to find alternative ways to stay warm. CMP estimates that a vast majority of customers will have power restored by Saturday, but full restoration may take until after the weekend.
CMP and Versant officials in Maine discuss the challenges of restoring power after a severe storm. Both companies have been assessing the damage caused by fallen trees and downed branches, making restoration efforts harder. The extent of the widespread damage will determine the timeline for power restoration, with some areas expected to take longer due to inaccessibility. CMP has 400 line crews and 200 tree crews working, with additional crews on the way, while Versant has 95 line crews and 70 tree crews. The officials ask for patience and remind people to watch out for crews working.
Central Maine Power (CMP), the state's largest utility, is facing criticism for its poor communication with customers during the restoration process following a wind and rainstorm that caused widespread power outages. CMP's outage website provided minimal information, leaving customers in the dark about when power would be restored. Some customers received text messages falsely claiming that power had been restored. CMP defended its lack of information, stating that "assessing" was critical for damage assessment before crews could respond. This is not the first time CMP has faced criticism for its communication during restoration efforts.
Power restoration in Massachusetts following a severe storm could take multiple days, as utility providers Eversource and National Grid bring in additional crews from out of state to assist. The storm brought heavy rainfall and strong winds, resulting in downed trees, utility poles, and power lines. As of Monday night, approximately 190,617 customers were still without power. Crews are prioritizing emergency calls, hospitals, and critical care facilities, and will assess damage and make repairs where conditions are safe.
Central Maine Power (CMP) announced that restoration efforts for electricity will begin overnight after a wind and rainstorm caused extensive damage, surpassing that of the 2022 Christmas storm. More than 400 line crews and 200 tree crews will be involved in the multi-day restoration effort. As of 7 p.m., over 340,000 customers were without power across multiple counties. CMP advises customers to visit their website for updates and manage account preferences. Safety reminders include staying away from downed lines, turning off major appliances, and seeking shelter or food resources if needed.
Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell stated that the recovery efforts in the Nashville area following the deadly tornadoes could take weeks, possibly months. He emphasized the importance of donations and volunteers, particularly those who can assist with translative communications for the large Spanish-speaking population affected. Power has been restored to most areas, with fewer than 100 people still without electricity.
Recovery efforts in Florida are focused on restoring power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses after Hurricane Idalia caused record storm surge and knocked out power for hundreds of thousands. The Big Bend region, which bore the brunt of the storm, is facing sweltering heat and limited access to clean water. The US Army Corps of Engineers is on standby to assist with power restoration, while some areas could see additional rainfall that may impede recovery efforts. Despite the destruction caused by Idalia, the death toll and extent of damage in Florida remain unclear, but officials credit accurate forecasts and evacuation warnings for the relatively low number of casualties.
