Planned, emergency, and scheduled power outages in Ukraine: key differences explained

Ukrainian power outages fall into three main categories: planned, emergency, and scheduled. Planned outages occur for maintenance and are announced in advance, while emergency outages happen suddenly due to equipment damage or attacks. Scheduled outages (ГПВ) address power deficits and follow published timetables, whereas emergency schedules (ГАВ) are implemented without warning. The national grid operator Ukrenergo decides on emergency measures, while regional distribution operators implement them. Under martial law, scheduled outages must not exceed six hours with at least two hours of power between interruptions. Emergency outages typically last up to two hours but may extend in severe situations. Specific schedules vary by region, with some areas like Kyiv using individual address-based timetables rather than standard queue systems. Residents should check their local distribution operator's official website, Telegram channels, or contact centers for accurate outage information.