On 8 February, the Baltic countries will completely disconnect from the Russian electricity system and will be in island mode. This means that Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania will temporarily maintain the frequency of their electricity system themselves. The following day, on 9 February, the Baltic states will connect to the continental Europe frequency area.
Energy companies have prepared thoroughly for the transition, and it is very unlikely that Estonian residents will notice the transition.
However, in times of great change, one must always be prepared for the unexpected. We describe three different scenarios
MOST LIKELY SCENARIO
Everything goes smoothly, consumers do not notice the change.
HIGHLY UNLIKELY SCENARIO
Electricity consumption must be limited in the mornings and evenings.
For this to happen, a series of deliberate sabotage attacks on electricity infrastructure would have to take place simultaneously across the Baltic states. This can lead to short (up to 2 hours) power outages in some areas.
EXTREMELY UNLIKELY SCENARIO
Widespread power outages.
This would require very large-scale and simultaneous cyber-attacks and sabotage of energy infrastructure across the Baltic states. In such a situation, the entire electricity system may have to be restarted, which can take up to 72 hours. In this case, electricity will first be provided to vital services.
How to act on 8–9 February
Carry on as normal: consume electricity in the same way as any other time.
Do not believe or spread misinformation: do not spread information that cannot be verified. Official information is available on valitsus.ee and by calling 1247. Reliable information is provided by government websites and major media outlets.
Review your emergency supplies and plans: outages are very unlikely to occur, but just in case, be prepared to go without electricity for short periods. Always be prepared.
For more information see www.olevalmis.ee and www.kriis.ee.
See also FAQ at kriis.ee.
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Last updated: 08.02.2025
