As electrical grid fails again, Crimeans are asked to finish New Year's preparations before nightfall

The head of Crimea's Ministry of Fuel and Power, Svetlana Borodulina, has asked residents of the peninsula (especially those using electric stoves) to finish their New Year's preparations during the daylight hours.

Borodulina also recommended that women manage to wrap up their hair-curling before nightfall.

During the day Crimea, can rely on solar and wind energy, said Borodulina.

“In daylight hours we have good energy supplies from solar and wind generation. This is why residents should try to complete their preparations on electric burners in the daylight. Women using hair curlers, charge up your batteries and then at around 6 p.m. stay in touch with one another. Being friendly when it comes to energy use is, perhaps, the best interchangeable gift for Crimeans,” Borodulina said.

Interfax

• Crimea relies on Ukrainian energy suppliers for at least 70 percent of its electricity. On November 20, the support columns for the main power lines into Crimea were destroyed with explosives. On November 21, another two transmission lines failed, causing a blackout throughout Crimea. In response to the crisis, officials in Crimea have instituted a series of rolling power and water blackouts.
• Work on Ukraine's high voltage Kakhovskaya–Titan overhead transmission line, which supplies Crimea with much of its electricity, restored power on December 8. On December 30, however, a pylon on the Kakhovskaya–Titan line came down during the night, disrupting the powers supply again. Ukrenergo says it is investigating what caused the incident.
• Russia sped up construction of an “energy bridge” to Crimea and was able to launch two new energy lines by December 15. Russian authorities hope to make Crimea energy-independent from Ukraine by May 2016.