Severe frosts increase consumption of electricity to record levels

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Unusually cold temperatures raised the consumption of electricity to record levels on Wednesday and Thursday nights. In comparison, some 300 megawatts more electricity were consumed than during the previous record period two years ago. If the freeze continues, another record is in prospect today - on Friday.
     
The national power grid operator Fingrid, responsible for the technical functioning of the electricity transmission system in Finland, made an announcement on Thursday of a possible shortage of capacity.
      Later in the afternoon Russia stated that it will cut exports of electricity to Finland by 30 percent, as the consumption in the St. Petersburg region was also increasing.
      "The consumption of electricity is being really high, but there is no actual risk to electricity supplies unless serious eqipment failures occur. Electricity will also be imported from Sweden", says Director Reima Päivinen of Fingrid.
     
Furthermore, the leading Nordic energy company Fortum has already started up two of its four coal-fired power units in Inkoo, on the south coast, west of Helsinki, and the Meri-Pori coal-fired power plant in Pori as well as the Haapavesi peat-burning power plant in Haapavesi, 125 km to the south from Oulu.
      Fortum's Vice President of External Communications Kirsi Nurmi reports that their power plants are being kept on standby just for situations like this. Hence, there is no risk of running out of electricity or district heating.
     
In Helsinki, only those citizens who had no other choice went out. At schools, children did not go out during breaks. Furthermore, at least the construction companies Skanska and NCC announced that work at their construction sites has been suspended because of freezing conditions.
      "The limit is generally around 15 to 18°C", said Hannu Lamminaho of Skanska.
      The sharp frosts have also hampered railway traffic, causing failures in locomotives, particularly in the regional transport of the Greater Helsinki area. Some delays in the timetables of long-distance trains have also occurred.
     
On the other hand, tow-truck businesses are prospering when sharp frosts immobilise cars. Moreover, service stations are busy selling the winter quality of diesel which can be used even in conditions down to -35°C.
     
Dog-owners do not have many alternatives. Despite the freezing weather, Marianne Korpi-Anttila walked her short-haired collie Nelli on Helsinki's Hietaniemi beach on Thursday afternoon. A raincoat helped Nelli to survive in the ice-cold circumstances but her paws were cold.
      The Finnish Animal Protection Society wishes to remind dog-owners that a dog that is kept outdoors has to have a well insulated doghouse. Furthermore, a dog must not be left outside a shop or a restaurant if the weather is cold.
      The current severe frosts, developed in the strong high pressure centre in Siberia and later extended to Finland, will continue at least over the weekend.
      The record of this winter - of -40.2°C - was measured in the municipality of Kittilä in Western Lapland during the early hours of Thursday.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Severe frosts immobilise cars and freeze pipes across Finland (19.1.2006)

Links:
  Fingrid Group
  Fortum

Helsingin Sanomat