Power cuts in Turku

Contents:

• What power cuts?
• What can I do during and after a power cut?
• How can I prepare for power cuts
• Impact on water distribution
• Impact on city services
• This is how the city services operate during power cuts

What power cuts?

A shortage of electricity will happen if electricity is used more than it is produced in Finland or imported here. As the import of electricity and gas from Russia to Finland has ceased because of Russia’s war of aggression, the risk of electricity shortages is a reality in the coldest winter. 

If the reduction in consumption and other means are not sufficient, circulating power cuts are the last resort to avoid major disruptions in the distribution of electricity according to Finland's transmission system operator Fingrid. The power cuts happen in periods of two hours maximum and are scheduled in different areas of the country and cities. 

The City of Turku is prepared for circulating power cuts, and preparedness is also important for all households. 

Everyone can also prevent electricity shortages by reducing the use of electricity, especially on weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m. and early evenings from 4 to 8 p.m. 

• Turku Energia: Information on electricity shortage (in Finnish)
• TEM: Multilingual information on electricity shortages
• Information and tips for saving electricity

What can I do during and after a power cut?

There is no immediate need to contact the operator of the electricity network. An exception to this is a situation where the power cut is caused by, for example, a tree falling on the power line in your yard. Read the Turku Energia guidelines for power cuts.

• Turku Energia: On power cuts (in Finnish)

How can I prepare for power cuts

In case of power cuts and other disruptions, every home should have a home reserve, i.e. food, water and medication for at least three days. 

In the event of a power cut, you will receive up-to-date information from the City of Turku, electricity companies and the media. To keep track of disruption messages, it is a good idea to have power on your phones, computers, and backup power supplies. 

• Turku Energia: Prepare for a power cut (in Finnish)
• 72hours.fi – Home preparedness recommendation 
• Turku Energia: Order a bulletin on power cuts to your phone or email (in Finnish)

Impact on water distribution

The two-hour circulating regional power cuts do not have a significant impact on water supply in Turku. The water pipeline network is pressurised to allow the water to flow from the tap, and the wastewater mainly flows normally. However, extra toilet flushing should be avoided.

• Turun Vesihuolto: How power cuts affect water supply (in Finnish)

Impact on city services

The City of Turku is prepared for circulating power cuts so that they would cause as little harm as possible to residents. The distribution of electricity will not be interrupted in the city's critical areas. For example, 24-hour facilities and hospital services operate regardless of power outages at all times of the day. 

In summary: 
-the city services must be partially reduced, and the facilities closed down
-schools, educational institutions and day-care centres are open
-street lights and traffic lights may not work
-city service numbers may not work
-there may be disruptions in public transport
-in life-threatening situations, you must always call the emergency number 112.

Read more about the city's preparedness: Link to bulletin

We report any power cuts and their impacts on the operations on the city's social media channels, this website and the service points’ own channels.

This is how the city services operate during power cuts

Schools, educational institutions and day-care centres are open also during power cuts, and the activities are adjusted as necessary. Power cuts may affect food preparation, menus and mealtimes if information on interruptions is not available in time. 

Flashlights and rechargeable lights have been purchased for shared use in day-care centres. Measures are taken at schools and other educational institutions to ensure that the premises that are used will have the lighting that they need. During power cuts, it will also be possible to take advantage of the flashlights in the students’ telephones.

24-hour social welfare and health care institutions and hospital services operate 24 hours a day, regardless of power interruptions. Reception services may need to be closed during the day during a power cut. 

Home users of healthcare assistive devices must charge the batteries of their devices and check the condition of the devices well in advance of the power cuts. 

Föli public transport and payment system should also function during power cuts. The aim is to run all lines according to normal schedules. Any disruptions are communicated in the Föli application. Electric buses are mainly charged at night, and they are in operation when power cuts are most likely. Föli also has a diesel-operated bus fleet.

Streetlights and other outdoor lighting do not work in the area affected by power cuts. Guardians are asked to take this into account, for example, in the arrival and departure of children in day-care centres and schools.

Traffic lights do not operate without electricity, so during a circulating power cut, the traffic lights in the area are interrupted. In this case, the crossings function according to normal traffic rules and obligation to give way. It is our special wish that motorists will be particularly vigilant and thoughtful in order to ensure safe and flexible driving without traffic light control.

Libraries: During power cuts, borrowing and returning material is not possible. The aim is to keep libraries open within their service hours. The use of local libraries during self-service hours is not possible.  
  
Sports facilities: In the sports facilities that can be booked, responsibility for a power cut rests with the person responsible for the shift. Sports and exercise services send instructions to those who have booked shifts and their responsible persons in case of power cuts in advance. Operating instructions and information on closure times are also delivered to the notice boards/entrances of the sports facilities.
 
Indoor sports facilities must be emptied from customers in case of power cuts. In circumstances where staff are present, they guide customers and give instructions on how to proceed. Customers will be informed about power cuts as early as possible, and access to the facilities will be closed, if possible, approximately one hour before the deadline. The aim is to cancel the booked services beforehand if there is information about the power cut in time. Unplanned power cuts are communicated as soon as possible, and the facilities are emptied of customers.
 
Youth Centres: During short power cuts lasting a few hours, it is possible to organise activities for children and young people. During longer power cuts, the facilities are closed and the services for children and young people at the service points are interrupted.
 
Museums: Museums are closed to the public during all power cuts.  
 
Turku Concert Hall and the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra strive to adapt their operations according to the circulating power cuts. The daily working hours and start times of the events will be changed as applicable. However, the public events held in the evening must start no later than 8 p.m. The audience of the Concert Hall will be informed in advance of any schedule changes at both the general and event level. In the event of an unforeseen power cut, in case the power cut lasts longer than 10 minutes, the event will be interrupted and the Concert Hall will be emptied. During power cuts, the Concert Hall is closed to the public. 

The Kakola Funicular cannot move during power cuts and must be discontinued before the power cut to avoid leaving passengers in the diagonal lift.

The electrified city ferry Föri operates with batteries that can be charged at night. According to current estimates, Föri can operate also during the circulating power cuts.

Customer service points Turku-piste, Market Square and Monitori at Skanssi will be closed during power cuts as regards visiting services. Other service channels work as far as possible.