Why can the supply be interrupted?

We explain why a grid incident may occur, what the most common causes are, and how we act at e‑distribución to restore the supply.

Why do incidents occur?

Although we carry out continuous improvement and maintenance tasks, the electricity supply can be interrupted due to causes beyond our control.

Faults are unforeseen situations that can occur:

  • In your installation (home, office, or community).
  • In the electricity distribution network.

 

Most common causes of an incident

Incidents in the electricity grid can be due to:

CAUSE
EXAMPLES
Accidents
Cable breakage due to excavators or lorries hitting overhead lines when lifting trailers.
Weather conditions
Storms, floods, heavy snowfall or strong wind events.
Fires
Fire can damage the grid or require it to be disconnected for safety.
Fauna and vegetation
Birds or tree branches that come into contact with lines and trigger automatic protection systems.
Component failure
Failure of a transformer, insulators or other network components.
External faults
Incidents in the transmission network or in generation plants, external to the distribution network.

How long can an incident last?

Some faults are resolved automatically in a short time.
Others require the intervention of technicians and may take longer to fix.

How we act at e‑distribución in the event of a fault

When we detect an incident:

  • We activate an action protocol.
  • We coordinate manoeuvres from our control centres.
  • We send maintenance brigades if necessary.

Our goal is to restore the service as quickly as possible, always ensuring the safety of individuals.

Priority for essential services

If the fault is serious and affects many people, we prioritise supply to essential services, such as:

  • Hospitals.
  • Emergency services.
  • Security forces.
  • Water supplies.

In extreme weather situations, we work in coordination with other emergency services.

Important safety notices

  • The supply may be restored at any time, even before the estimated timeframe.
  • Do not carry out repairs during a power cut.

In many cases, the lack of supply is related to the home's fuse box or to having exceeded the contracted capacity.