How are power grids being prepared for the autumn-winter season?

Energy system organizations officially entered the autumn-winter season on October 1, 2025. In this regard, they summarized the work carried out on the main power grids in preparation for the 2025/2026 autumn-winter season and provided a report on the tasks planned for the duration of the season.

In recent years, temperatures on Earth have been experiencing sharp drops in winter and sudden spikes in summer. As a result, electrical equipment in the energy system is subjected to increased stress and often operates in emergency mode. This, in turn, significantly shortens the service life of the equipment and leads to more frequent malfunctions.

During this year’s summer season, electricity consumption in the country reached 13 gigawatt-hours, or 280–290 million kWh per day. In the winter season, it is expected to rise to 14 gigawatts per hour, or 310–320 million kWh per day. To deliver this volume of electricity through the main transmission networks, comprehensive preparatory work was carried out across the regions.

Since the beginning of the year, several projects have been completed, resulting in an increase in substation capacity to 492 megavolt-amperes. Notable upgrades include the ’’A’’ substation in Navoi province with 125 MVA, the ’’Yulduz’’ substation in Andijan province with 100 MVA, the ’’Qoyliq’’ substation in Tashkent city with 17 MVA, and the ’’Ohangaron’’ substation with 250 MVA.

A plan of measures was developed to ensure the stable operation of electrical equipment during the 2025–2026 autumn-winter season. Comprehensive repairs were carried out on 1,566 kilometers of power lines (140% of the plan), 39 transformers (130%), and 122 switching devices (102%). The routine maintenance was performed on 12,324 kilometers of power lines (103% of the plan), 1,472 transformers (129%), and 2,561 switching devices (106%).

Cooling systems of transformers were inspected, and 139 motors, along with three oil pumps, were repaired and reinstalled. In addition, all overhead power transmission lines underwent both unscheduled and periodic inspections. During the repair work, more than 15,000 insulators and 3,850 bird-protection devices were installed. Currently, the contact connections of electrical equipment in the transmission networks and substations are being continuously monitored using thermal imaging devices.

Since the beginning of the year, thermal inspections have been carried out on the contact connections of electrical equipment in 117 substations and across 13,730 kilometers of power lines, with any detected overheating promptly addressed. Additionally, thermal inspections were conducted on 272 substations and 17,150 kilometers of distribution networks. This practice will continue throughout the season.

In addition, to improve the efficiency of inspections on high-voltage main power transmission lines, particularly in hard-to-reach areas, zones with new construction, and tree-covered regions, and to quickly identify damaged sections in case of emergencies, drones have been introduced for monitoring. Using this technology, 800 kilometers of the network were inspected. Any defects identified during these inspections were promptly addressed, preventing potential emergency outages.

The reserves have been prepared, including 200 tons of transformer oil, 1,000 kilograms of technical plates, 35 tons of various types of wires, 10 km of cable products, 60 metal and reinforced concrete supports, 10,000 insulators, and transformers of various capacities for 21 main network substations, as well as for 37 substations at 110 kV and 39 substations at 35 kV in the distribution networks to ensure the reliable operation of the electricity network facilities.

Moreover, 222 standby crews have been organized, fully equipped with specialized vehicles, necessary spare parts, communication devices, and protective equipment to ensure rapid response to emergencies.

For the season, a total of 230 vehicles have been prepared, including 38 truck-mounted cranes, 13 excavators, 80 crew vehicles, 39 aerial lift trucks, and 22 mobile electrical laboratories, all made ready for operation.

At the same time, the Situational Analysis Department of the Joint-Stock Company operates under a 24-hour schedule, with senior staff actively overseeing operations to ensure effective communication, data analysis, and prompt resolution in the event of emergencies in electrical equipment.

To implement the relevant resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers dated December 17, 2024, 23,927 kilometers of 35 kV and higher voltage power lines and 1,492 substations from the ’’Regional electric networks’’ JSC system were taken on balance starting June 1, 2025. As of September 22, 2025, under Cabinet resolution no. 599, extensive work is being carried out nationwide by the branches of the ’’Uzbekistan national electric networks’’ JSC, responsible for the main power grids.

For example, at substations currently operating under heavy load, transformers are being replaced with higher-capacity units as a priority.

A total additional capacity of 221.5 megavolt-amperes was established across 41 substations.

Specifically, nine new transformers were purchased (four 25 MVA, four 16 MVA, and one 6.3 MVA), increasing the capacity of substations by a total of 84 MVA. This includes 6 MVA in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, replacing 10 MVA with 16 MVA; 9 MVA in Khorezm region, replacing 16 MVA with 25 MVA; 12 MVA in Andijan region, replacing 4 MVA with 16 MVA; 9 MVA in Jizzakh region, replacing 16 MVA with 25 MVA; 9.7 MVA in Samarkand region, replacing 6.3 MVA with 16 MVA; 15 MVA in Surkhandarya region, replacing 10 MVA with 25 MVA; 8.3 MVA in Tashkent region, replacing 4 MVA with 6.3 MVA and 10 MVA with 16 MVA; and 15 MVA in Kashkadarya region, replacing 10 MVA with 25 MVA.

As a result of dismantling and repairs, an additional 137.5 megavolt-amperes of capacity was created at 32 substations. In addition, 99 tons of wire were purchased to replace conductors on overhead power transmission lines operating under heavy load.

• In the Tashkent region, 33 kilometers of network conductors were replaced, increasing transmission capacity. This includes 21 kilometers on the 35 kV L-Navoi line and 12 kilometers on the 35 kV L-Kokterak line.
• The 35 kV L-Bogzor-1 and L-Bogzor-2 overhead transmission lines were upgraded to 110 kV, and the new 110/35/10 kV Qizgaldok substation was commissioned.
• In the Andijan region, conductors on the 18-kilometer 110 kV L-Chinobod line were replaced.
• In the Republic of Karakalpakstan, conductor replacement work continues on 40 kilometers of 110 kV lines.
• In the Jizzakh region, insulators are being replaced on the 110 kV L-Arnasoy-2 line. 
• A 4-kilometer section of the 110 kV L-Sanoat-1 and L-Sanoat-2 lines was newly constructed.
• In the Navoi region, insulators were replaced and support poles reinforced on the 110 kV L-Uzbekiston (52 km), L-Boymurod (35 km), L-Oqbaytal (42 km), and the 35 kV L-Uchtepa (19 km) lines.

In addition, by the end of this year, the Joint Stock Company ’’Uzbekistan national electric networks’’ will carry out the following activities:

To increase the capacity of substations:

• In the Andijan region, a total of 300 megavolt-amperes (at the “Lochin” 500 kV substation);
• In the Samarkand region – 125 megavolt-amperes (AT-3 at the “Kattakurgan” substation);
• In Tashkent city – 100 megavolt-amperes (at the “Yuksak” substation);
• In the Tashkent region, 250 megavolt-amperes (at the “Ohangaron” substation).

Regarding the power lines:

• Completion of 31 km of 220 kV power line construction in the Tashkent region (L-Ohangaron–Yangi Angren);
• Construction of a 47 km 110 kV power line in the Khorezm region (L-Shovot);
• Commissioning of a 14 km 110 kV power line in the Republic of Karakalpakstan (L-Oraylik);
• Completion of modernization works on 82.5 km of power lines in the Kashkadarya region (L-K-K – 35.4 km, L-32-M – 9.6 km, L-32-K – 37.5 km).

Regarding the connection of newly built substations to distribution networks:

• Completion of connection works for a 20 km (2x10 km) 110 kV power line from the Zafarobod substation in the Jizzakh region;
• Connection of an 8 km (2x4 km) 110 kV power line from the Ohangaron substation in the Tashkent region;
• Completion of works to connect a 6.5 km 110 kV power line from the Sherobod-2 substation in Surkhandarya region to the distribution network system.

At present, all efforts and resources of the energy system organizations are mobilized to ensure the stability of the power supply. In particular, the energy facilities under the balance of the joint-stock company ’’Uzbekistan national power grids’’ operate in a 24/7 mode to transmit the electricity generated during the production process to the distribution networks.

MVA — megavolt-ampere
MW — megawatt
GW — gigawatt
kV — kilovolt
kW — kilowatt