Following a new safety analysis, additional measures will be adopted for the grid in and around Mechelen. Throughout the repair work that will be undertaken after the storm, limited power outages may occur this weekend. These can be avoided through local reductions in the use of electricity

• During the repair work this weekend, one of the two high-voltage lines (70 kV) currently supplying Mechelen with power will be temporarily switched off. This line crosses the destroyed 150 kV line. 
• All options have been considered. Temporarily switching off the line is the only way to guarantee the safety of our technical teams and local residents as the damage to the affected houses is cleared.
• So as not to overload the remaining line, residents have been asked to limit their use of electricity between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. This will help to prevent a local power outage. 
  
   

Following a new safety analysis, Elia will adopt additional measures this weekend to provide maximum protection for its technical teams and local residents during the work that will address the damage  caused to houses in Leest. One of the two high-voltage lines (both 70 kV) currently supplying Mechelen with power will be switched off as a preventive measure. This line crosses the 150 kV high-voltage line that was severely damaged by last Tuesday's storm. If a line were to spring back while being cut, there is a risk that the underlying 70 kV line would be hit. In turn, this could cause an electric arc to form, which carries an electrocution risk. So as not to overload the remaining line, residents in and around Mechelen have been asked to limit their use of electricity between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. over the weekend.