12.03.2026
The State Energy Supervision Inspectorate (Derzhenerhonahliad) is checking how the distribution system operator (DSO) personnel in various regions of Ukraine carry out dispatcher commands to disconnect power lines during the application of hourly outage schedules (HOS).
The purpose of such inspections is to ensure the uniform and non-discriminatory application of electricity supply restrictions for all consumers. The reasons for possible violations can vary: from the human factor or staff shortages, where personnel physically do not have time to perform switching within the specified timeframes, to official negligence or intentional actions.
At the same time, the average consumer cannot objectively assess whether the outages are occurring correctly. Power grids have a complex structure, similar to a spider’s web or a circulatory system: even neighboring houses can be powered from different lines. Additionally, the situation is affected by accidents at energy infrastructure sites caused by constant shelling.
That is why only Derzhenerhonahliad can establish the fact of a violation based on the results of an inspection, as these are complex issues of dispatching and commercial accounting in electrical networks. The results of such inspections are published on the official website of the department, and in case of confirmed violations, responsibility is provided for both individual employees and enterprises — distribution system operators.
After one of these inspections, information appeared in the public space about allegedly unfair hourly outage schedules in the Vinnytsia region. Some media outlets reported the uneven application of electricity supply restrictions for consumers.
According to data released with reference to the Derzhenerhonahliad website, during an unscheduled inspection of the distribution system operator JSC “Vinnytsiaoblenergo,” it was established that “at certain substations, personnel did not fully carry out the dispatcher’s commands to disconnect power lines in accordance with the HOS. As a result, some consumers remained with lights, while other groups faced outages, leading to an uneven distribution of restrictions.”
At the same time, JSC “Vinnytsiaoblenergo” emphasizes: the so-called “certain substations” mentioned in the inspection materials, along with the personnel who did not follow the dispatcher’s commands, are not on the company’s balance sheet and are not facilities it services. Therefore, the responsibility for failure to follow dispatcher commands and the possible violation of the principle of uniformity in applying outage schedules should be borne by the owner of these energy facilities.
At the request of the Energy Club media department, the CEO of JSC “Vinnytsiaoblenergo” Yurii Kasich commented on the situation.
— After enemy shelling, a large number of energy infrastructure facilities in Kyiv, the Kyiv region, Sumy, Chernihiv, Dnipro, and Kharkiv were destroyed. In the Vinnytsia region, fortunately, this is not the case. But electricity outage schedules are in effect in all regions because we operate in the unified energy system of Ukraine. We have one mode of operation. If a power plant is damaged in Western, Central, or Northern Ukraine, our region also feels it.
According to the company head, the findings of the Derzhenerhonahliad inspection concerned a specific subscriber substation:
— Based on the results of checking the application of HOS in the Vinnytsia region, Derzhenerhonahliad concluded that electricity consumers of one subscriber substation were restricted significantly less than others. This was stated in the relevant act. But some media outlets spread information that it is JSC “Vinnytsiaoblenergo” that disconnects some people more and others less. However, this is not true.
JSC “Vinnytsiaoblenergo” as a distribution system operator ensures the execution of dispatcher commands within its own networks and equipment on the company’s balance sheet, in accordance with current regulatory legal acts and the requirements of energy legislation.
But in the Vinnytsia region, as in other regions, there are high-voltage class substations of 110 kV that do not belong to JSC “Vinnytsiaoblenergo.” And the personnel working at these substations also have nothing to do with our enterprise. They have their own employer who pays their salary. We give commands for the application or cancellation of restrictions in the supply of electricity — by order of NPC “Ukrenergo” — but that personnel simply does not execute them.
According to Yurii Kasich, such substations often belong to developers or other owners who have their own power supply infrastructure.
— Such substations in most cases belong to large developers who sell apartments and houses to people. And they themselves, at their own discretion, without following commands, do not disconnect these consumers, although they are obliged to follow the commands of JSC “Vinnytsiaoblenergo.” Neither JSC “Vinnytsiaoblenergo” nor Derzhenerhonahliad has any leverage over such subscriber substations or this personnel, — he noted.
Experts explain: not all electrical installations in the region are owned by the distribution system operator. Some transformer substations are so-called subscriber ones — that is, those belonging to enterprises, institutions, developers, or other owners and staying on their balance sheets.
A subscriber substation is electrical equipment that powers a certain object (for example, a factory, a residential complex, a farm, or a shopping center) and is maintained by the owner, not the distribution system operator. The owner is responsible for the technical condition, repair, modernization, and safe operation of such a substation.
Yurii Kasich believes that to prevent such situations, changes to current legislation are necessary.
— At least for the period of martial law, it would be advisable to transfer all substations to the operational service of distribution system operators, i.e., oblenergos. And then the electricity supply restriction schedules will operate uniformly and fairly, and the responsibility for their application will be borne by one legal entity — the DSO, to which penalties can be applied. Currently, it is impossible to hold owners of subscriber substations accountable within the framework of current legislation.
— Therefore, we ask the public and media representatives not to draw generalized or premature conclusions without clarifying the circumstances and to apply for official comments directly to JSC “Vinnytsiaoblenergo.” We are always ready to provide full and reliable information within our competence.
The company head also noted that consumers sometimes turn to the distribution system operator regarding outages that are actually related to malfunctions on subscriber networks.
— In such cases, we are always ready to provide advice and facilitate communication, but the technical solution to the issue depends on the owner of the substation. We are open to cooperation and support initiatives to transfer networks to the balance of the distribution system operator — as this increases the reliability of power supply and the quality of service to consumers.
