In Monaco, with the energy crisis, “we cannot exclude that there will be power cuts” this winter
The SMEG, the Monegasque electricity distributor, however wants to be optimistic: “it is rather the month of January where we fear a tension, with four days in red”. He appeals to the “civility” of his customers to avoid having to cut the power.
We told you about it a few days ago : due to the energy crisis, power cuts could affect the Côte d’Azur this winter. In Monaco, the problem will be the same car the Monegasque electricity network is “interconnected” with the English one.
The Principality consumes every year”about 500 gigawatt hours (GWh)“explains Sylvain Didierjean, the electricity and gas director of the SMEGwho is in charge of the distribution of this energy in the 25,000 places of consumption Monegasques. Alone”a few gigawatt hours” are produced every year on the Rock, thanks to photovoltaic panels on the roofs and the recycling of waste.
Electricity consumption is above all dependent on the weather because, when it is cold, the heaters are switched on. For the moment, consumption is lower than the years before 2020 because it is rather mild.
Sylvain Didierjean, electricity and gas director of SMEG
Since the beginning of October, SMEG has been updating “every 15 minutes“on its website a “electricity weather”. For D-Day and the three days that follow, three colors (green, orange or red) indicate the state of energy tension that concerns Monaco.
In the event of red weather, SMEG informs its customers. “On D-3, a communication will be sent to Monegasque consumers by email, SMS or via an application to encourage them to reduce consumption. On D-1, new communication. If there must be a load shedding, the decision will be made in the morning“, continues Sylvain Didierjean.
If Monaco makes the final decision, the Principality will base itself on the decisions of its French neighbour. Thereby, if the Alpes-Maritimes are affected by a power cut, Monaco will do the same on its territory.
Our electric destinies are linked. Today, in the same way as France, we cannot exclude that there are cuts to avoid a blackout situation.
Sylvain Didierjean (SMEG)
The sectors, districts, or the number of people affected by these cuts are confidential and defined in the “load shedding plan decided by the government“. However, certain sectors, called “priority“, will be spared. This is the case of “medical sector“or still”services essential to the functioning of the State“.
“It is out of the question to cut a hospital !“, assures Sylvain Didierjean. “We will not cut all of Monaco, this will concern about 10% of the country.“
An estimate that may of course vary depending on the level of electrical voltage.
As we speak, it is rather the month of January when we fear tension, with four red days.
Sylvain Didierjean (SMEG)
Spies who promise to be rather optimistic for the moment. It remains to be seen whether the behavior of each makes it possible to avoid a Blackout. “Consumers have to be trusted. They have the keys in hand“, consult the SMEG electricity and gas director.