General information

The consumption of electricity may need to be restricted if the volume of the generated and imported electricity is too low.

If a power shortage occurs, electricity transmission will be suspended as two-hour rolling blackouts.

Power cuts will most likely take place between 8.00 and 10.00 as well as between 17.00 and 19.00, as the consumption rates are at their highest during those hours.

We encourage everyone to conserve energy. Energy saving measures can reduce overall consumption and may help avoid power cuts.

Elenia and Verkko Korpela serve as the distribution companies in Kalajoki. You can subscribe to Elenia’s text message notifications, which will inform you of any disruptions. Subscribe to these messages on Elenia’s website via the Elenia Aina service (in Finnish). Read the terms and conditions of the SMS service on Elenia’s website.

Verkko Korpela issues notifications in Finnish on its website at https://www.korpelanvoima.fi/.

To monitor the power generation volumes and consumption, visit Fingrid’s website at https://www.fingrid.fi/en/electricity-market/power-system/.

The City of Kalajoki provides information on how power cuts affect its services:

• on its website
• on its social media (Facebook, Instagram)
• via the DaisyFamily application in early childhood education and care
• via Wilma to the guardians, pupils and students in preschools and schools
• via supplementary channels, as required, in case of prolonged outages.
• If the outages become longer in duration, the City may have to close some service points temporarily. It will issue a separate notification if that happens.

Please observe the following guidelines if a power cut occurs:

Water supply and drainage

• Avoid using water unnecessarily.
• Water will be supplied as normal, but the pressure may be lower.
• Collect water in containers in case the water supply is suspended.
• During a power cut, water may be hotter than usual, which increases the risk of burns.
• Property owners must be aware that water may not be used and toilets may not be flushed during a power cut, because the sewage system mainly functions through wastewater pumping stations.
• Wastewater pumping stations cannot operate during a power cut. Subsequently, the drainage pipes may not work, because the stations are not pumping the sewage onward down the line.
• Prevent water from entering the sewer by placing an empty container under a tap, for example. Do so even during short-term power cuts, so that the sewers do not overflow into properties or the ground.
• In addition to toilets, things that can rapidly overload the sewage system and should be avoided during power cuts include showering, taking a bath and using a dishwasher or a washing machine.

Heating

• The heat supply to properties will be suspended (district and geothermal heating, electric and oil central heating); avoid unnecessary airing and ventilation.
• District heating will function, but a power cut may affect the temperature of the water that comes out of the tap and the water may be hotter than normal. Beware of unusually hot water!
• Ensure that the area where your water meter is located remains warm enough, so that the meter cannot freeze and thus cause water damage to the property.
• Some properties may have their own pressure boosting plants, leak detectors, sprinkler systems, and wastewater and rainwater pumps, and owners must assess how they would be affected by a power cut.
• Use a fireplace or a wood burner, if you have one.
• Wear layers of warm clothing.

Phones and communication channels

• Avoid using your phone or the internet to avoid overwhelming the networks. Phone and internet connections may be down.
• During power cuts, phone networks can only operate for up to a few hours on backup power.
• If the phone network is down and you are in a situation that is a threat to health or life, for example if you need an ambulance or the fire brigade but cannot reach the emergency number, follow the steps below:
  • Restart your phone.
  • Without entering your PIN code, select to call the emergency number (112). Your phone will search for a functioning network.

Other actions

• ATMs and fuel pumps will not work.
• Streetlights will be dark, so carry a torch and use a reflector.
• Follow communications by the authorities, for example by using a battery-operated radio.
• Turn off power to the hob, iron, coffee machine and washing machine to avoid the risk of a fire once the outage is over.
• Leave one lamp on, so that you will be able to tell when the power cut is over.
• Do not open the freezer or fridge door needlessly.

Preparation guidelines for households

Households should be able to cope on their own for at least three days (72 hours) if a disruption occurs.

• Every home should have enough food, medicine, potable water, candles and matches for three days, as well as a battery-operated radio and a lamp.
• Stock foodstuffs that you can eat cold or prepare with a camping stove or in the BBQ. Dried goods, such as crackers and nuts, are good examples of such foodstuffs.
• Ensure that you have enough food for your entire family, including pets.
• Get a headtorch and make sure to have some spare batteries on hand. A headtorch is a safer light source than a candle.
• Make sure that your elderly loved ones have headtorches or similar items available if a power cut occurs. Candles are a potential fire hazard.
• Ensure that your vehicle has enough fuel.
• If you have a fireplace, maintain a sufficient stock of firewood.
• Keep your mobile phone battery fully charged. You should also get a backup battery or a mobile phone charger for the car.

After a power cut, turn electrical appliances and devices back on gradually to avoid a spike in power consumption.

The City’s services during power cuts

Early childhood education and care services

Early childhood education and care will be provided at daycare centres and as family daycare despite any power cuts. However, scheduled activities may be changed if a power cut occurs. Guardians can prepare for power cuts by bringing warm clothes for their children to the daycare centre or family daycare provider.

Early childhood education and care services will continue regardless of power cuts, and children may always be dropped off at the daycare centre or family daycare provider at the allocated early childhood education and care times. If a child is absent due to a power cut, the customer fee will not be refunded.

We will notify guardians of any power cuts if we receive information about them sufficiently in advance. We will issue the notifications via the DaisyFamily application.

Education services

Every attempt will be made to ensure that schools are able to operate as normally as possible, and according to the correct start and end times. Schools have prepared for potential disruptions to their power supply. We will notify guardians of any power cuts if we receive information about them sufficiently in advance. Information will be distributed via Wilma.

Under exceptional conditions, more classes may take place outdoors, and we kindly ask you to make sure that your child is always wearing warm and appropriate clothing for the weather. In addition to lighting, power cuts may affect the availability of water. Therefore, we highly recommend that children bring a water bottle to school. They may also carry a torch, if they are unable to use a mobile phone as a light source, in case of an emergency. Under exceptional conditions, the food provided may not be hot and the menu may be changed. Furthermore, the internet connections may not work during power cuts, which is why schools and guardians may not be able to communicate in real time. Additionally, electronic learning materials may not always be accessible.

Power cuts may affect the street and other outdoor lighting, as well as the traffic control systems. During the hours of darkness, even under normal circumstances, the use of lights and reflectors is very important. Power cuts make it imperative.

Swimming pool

• The swimming pool and spa Sanifani will be closed during power cuts, and people will be instructed to exit them safely.
• Safety lights and exit lights will remain on for an hour when powered by batteries. The lifeguards have access to LED lights.
• SaniFani will reopen once the power is back on and it is safe to do so.

Library

The machines used to borrow and return material will not be available for use during a power cut. Library customers will be asked to exit the premises and the library will be closed. Please note that the toilets and the lift may not be used during a power cut.

Indoor sports facilities

The self-serve rental facilities of the leisure services unit, including sports and cultural venues: activities will not commence if a power cut is expected and about to begin. If activities have already started when a power cut occurs, the participants will be asked to make their way back home calmly on their own. Before doing so, users must check that no one is left behind. They must also ensure that the door locks behind them.

Facility reservations and events will not be cancelled in advance or rescheduled for a later date by the leisure services unit.

Youth facilities

Youth facilities will not be available for use during power cuts. Young people will be asked to exit the facilities, and the facilities will be closed.

Social and health care services

The social welfare and health care units are prepared to continue operating during power cuts.

At the beginning of 2023, the responsibility for providing primary services was transferred over to the Wellbeing Services County of North Ostrobothnia, and from now on, any notifications regarding the effects of power cuts on social and health care services will be released by the County. The website of the Wellbeing Services County of North Ostrobothnia was launched at www.pohde.fi on 29 December 2022.

 

Links and more information

https://www.spek.fi/turvallisuus/varautuminen-kotona/sahkokatkot/ (in Finnish)

https://www.defmin.fi/files/2256/pahasti_poikki_2012.pdf (in Finnish)

https://72tuntia.fi/

Kalajoen Lämpö (in Finnish)

Osuuskunta Valkeavesi (in Finnish)