What happened
On December 9 the Cabinet of Ministers instructed regional military administrations to review the lists of critical infrastructure facilities. Following the inspection, as Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko reported, it was possible to free up at least 800 MW of electrical capacity — this will make it possible to reduce the duration of outage schedules for households and businesses.
"As a result of the review we found the possibility to free up at least 800 MW of electrical capacity. This will affect the reduction of the duration of power outage schedules for people and industry. Two categories were removed from the lists: consumers with capacity under 100 kW and facilities to which a number of other consumers were connected, which — in order to ensure a fair distribution of electricity — fall under the general restrictions."
— Yuliia Svyrydenko, Prime Minister
Who this will help
Two categories were excluded from the lists: consumers up to 100 kW and facilities where "multiple connections" created disproportionate protection. The consequence — more resource for an even distribution of electricity across regions. Designated hospitals, life-support facilities and defense‑industrial enterprises remain outside these changes.
Why this matters now
After a massive cyberattack and strikes on the power system, the head of the board of Ukrenergo warned that recovery will take weeks. That means: while networks are limited in capacity, management decisions about distribution priorities become a key tool to mitigate the effects.
"After the massive Russian attack, the restoration of Ukraine's power system will take weeks."
— Head of the board of Ukrenergo
Analysis and consequences
Energy experts note: 800 MW is not an instant "recovery" of the grid, but it is a significant reserve to reduce outage time during peak hours. The practical effect — more stable operation of industrial enterprises, logistics and utility services; for household consumers — shorter outage schedules and a lower risk of prolonged inconveniences.
The decision also has a social component: removing small consumers and "double" connections from the registers increases fairness in the distribution of limited resources.
What next
This review is an operational measure. Next it should be combined with repairs of damaged sections of the network and investments in system resilience. Moreover, changes in the registers may be adjusted depending on shifts in the operational situation and the technical condition of the networks.
After the government's statement, the expert community stresses: declarations must turn into clear allocation algorithms and transparent monitoring so the saved 800 MW are used as effectively as possible for society.
