Background on the Event
On the morning of this Wednesday, almost one million users in Buenos Aires and its densely populated suburbs experienced a power outage due to voltage issues amidst an intense summer heatwave. The electricity regulatory body reported that the blackout lasted nearly four hours, with temperatures peaking around 30°C at night.
Private Electricity Concessionaire’s Response
Edesur, the private electricity concessionaire, stated that power was restored in stages, and by midday on Wednesday, only a few thousand users remained without electricity.
Impact and Reactions
The power outage left Buenos Aires’ iconic Obelisk in darkness and affected a wide area surrounding the Argentine capital. This incident coincided with announcements of new electricity tariff increases, set to rise by 2% starting January 1st.
In middle-class neighborhoods of Buenos Aires, groups of residents and shop owners protested with pot-banging demonstrations due to the lack of electricity on New Year’s Eve.
Edesur reported deploying a “special operation to address issues related to high demand due to the heatwave on New Year’s Eve.”
Ongoing Challenges
The strain on the electrical grid is expected to persist on Wednesday, with temperatures forecasted to reach nearly 38°C in Buenos Aires and its surrounding areas, according to the national weather service.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who was affected by the power outage? Nearly one million users in Buenos Aires and its suburbs were impacted.
- What caused the power outage? The outage was due to voltage issues amidst an extreme heatwave and high electricity demand.
- Who is Edesur? Edesur is a private electricity concessionaire responsible for providing power to Buenos Aires and its surrounding areas.
- What were the reactions from residents? Middle-class neighborhood residents and shop owners protested with pot-banging demonstrations due to the lack of electricity on New Year’s Eve.
- What are the forecasted temperatures? Temperatures in Buenos Aires and its surrounding areas are expected to reach nearly 38°C on Wednesday, according to the national weather service.
