Elektrilevi states that in many Estonian cities, the underground cables are old. For example, there were recent power outages in Kuressaare. The cause was the old cables. These cables were laid underground in the 1960s.
Elektrilevi's CEO Mihkel Härm said that there were failures in Kuressaare over a certain period. In other cities, such as Paide, Võru, or Viljandi, failures are less frequent. In Kuressaare, there was one cable from 1961. These old cables have oil insulation. Between the paper layers, there is oil that acts as insulation.
Next year, Elektrilevi will replace 13 kilometers of cables in Kuressaare. This year, these cables will not be replaced. Maintenance work will be carried out in the summer. Contacts and substations will be checked to ensure they are clean and dry. The first major investments will begin next year.