Investigation into Czech power outage to take weeks, businesses seek compensation

The investigation into Friday’s massive power outage in Czechia will take several weeks. Experts from across Europe will also take part. The electricity distribution network was left undamaged by the blackout. Business organisations have criticised Industry and Trade Minister Lukáš Vlček (STAN) for downplaying its impact. The outage caused tens of millions of crowns in losses for the hospitality sector, they say. They are calling for a proposal on compensation. Vlček said any compensation would be decided only after an analysis of the causes. Other businesses also reported heavy losses. Since Friday, Czechs have shown greater interest in backup power sources.

About one million customers were left without electricity shortly after midday on Friday. The outage affected some towns and regions in the Central Bohemian, Ústí nad Labem, Liberec, Hradec Králové and Olomouc regions, as well as, in particular, the right-bank part of Prague. ČEPS, the transmission system operator, said the main mechanical cause was the fall of a phase conductor, which carries electricity between power plants and substations. The reason the conductor was damaged is not yet known.

In addition to ČEPS and domestic distribution companies, experts from the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) and specialists capable of assessing the specific equipment will also take part in the investigation. “The results of the investigation are expected within a matter of weeks,” ČEPS spokesperson Hana Klímová said. ČEPS is also preparing an urgent special inspection, using thermal imaging to check selected power lines.

Parts of the distribution network had to be brought back online after the blackout, but no repairs will be needed. Neither ČEZ Distribuce nor Pražská energetika has reported any damage to the network. “It was simply left without voltage, which was gradually restored to the network, allowing electricity supplies to resume,” Pražská energetika spokesperson Petr Holubec said.

The hospitality sector suffered losses due to food being thrown away and reservations being cancelled. “Minister Vlček should stop downplaying the impact of the blackout and start taking action. Czech hospitality needs help, not empty phrases,” said Luboš Kastner, head of the Czech Chamber of Commerce’s hospitality section. Friday is usually a key day for weekly revenues at most businesses, he said. “It is unacceptable for the minister to claim that the blackout had no serious impact without taking an interest in the specific losses in individual sectors,” said Josef Jaroš, chairman of the board of the Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Craftsmen of the Czech Republic.

According to Vlček, the government will decide on any compensation only after an analysis of the causes. “We will proceed in accordance with the law, as we do in other extraordinary events. ČEPS declared a state of emergency due to force majeure. Under the generally applicable legislation, compensation for damage is possible if there has been a failure. So let us wait for the specific causes of the events, which are now being analysed in detail,” the minister told ČTK.

In addition to the hospitality sector, other businesses have also estimated their losses to be high. Juta, the largest textile company in Czechia, based in Dvůr Králové nad Labem, has provisionally estimated them at 25 to 30 million crowns. Losses at the Crystalex CZ glassworks in Nový Bor will also run into millions of crowns. The chemical plant near Litvínov in the Most district is still tallying its losses and will not know the full extent until production resumes. The damage is expected to be substantial.

Insurers have recorded around a hundred claims from households following the power outage, most of them involving electrical appliances. “These mainly involve white goods, ceramic glass cooktops and, for example, pumps,” Jan Marek, spokesperson for Generali Česká pojišťovna, told ČTK. Insurers do not expect a significant increase in the number of claims.

The blackout also affected the operation of 14 České dráhy long-distance rail lines and regional services. In total, several hundred services were affected during the day. Passengers can apply for compensation. “If a passenger bought their ticket online, compensation will be paid automatically; otherwise, they are entitled to apply for compensation up to 90 days after the date of travel,” České dráhy spokesperson Filip Medelský said.

According to data from the online comparison site Heureka.cz, interest in generators has risen by 172 percent since Friday, representing more than 30,000 additional searches compared with previous weeks. Interest in power banks has also increased by tens of percent.