Authorities in the Atyrau region have explained the reasons behind the massive power outages that occurred on July 28, affecting the city and its suburban settlements. The main factors cited were abnormal heat, a shortage of generating capacity, emergency repairs at power plants, and an overloaded energy system, reports infohub.kz.
Power supply issues were discussed at a meeting chaired by regional governor Bolat Akchulakov. At his direction, an analysis of residents' complaints related to frequent outages was conducted.
It turned out that over the first seven months of 2026, more than 40,000 complaints were received by the '109' service. Residents of the Taskala, Nursaya, Balykchy, Zhuldyz, and Atyrau microdistricts complained most often about interruptions. According to the governor's office, accidents often occur due to unauthorized connections of new residential complexes to power grids. Another problem is the dispatch service of LLP 'Atyrau Zharyk,' which is difficult to reach during outages.
Meirbek Gubashev, director of LLP 'Atyrau Zharyk,' said the company serves more than 200,000 subscribers and has already completed half of the planned repair work. The main cause of rolling blackouts is the restrictions of the automatic load shedding system (ALSS), which is on the balance sheet of JSC 'KEGOC.' Due to a shortage of generating capacity, the automation periodically cuts off lines feeding the left-bank part of Atyrau, where more than 6,000 houses and about 1,000 organizations are located. The situation is further complicated by damaged backup cables, private and ownerless power grids, and transformer substations unprepared for winter.
KEGOC noted that electricity consumption in the region reached 1,154 megawatts. Against the backdrop of repairs at the MAEK power unit and the Karabatan Utility Solutions turbogenerator, abnormal heat, and a drop in the water level of the Zhaiyk River, electricity generation decreased, leading to an overload of interstate transit and automatic activation of the ALSS. According to the company, the problem should be fully resolved by the construction of the 'Karabatan – Ulke' power transmission line, which is scheduled for completion in 2027.
Bolat Akchulakov ordered the strengthening of emergency crews and dispatch services, paying special attention to problem areas, preparing proposals to improve the reliability of the energy system, and studying the possibility of moving overhead power lines underground. 'Personal responsibility for the situation with the city's electricity supply lies with the city governor, and at the regional level – with the deputy governor overseeing this area. This issue is under my personal control, and responsibility for the implementation of decisions made will be assigned to specific officials,' the regional governor stated.
Previously reported that on July 28, Atyrau experienced a blackout. Dozens of neighborhoods and suburban villages were temporarily left without power. LLP 'Atyrau Zharyk' then explained that the cause was an excess of permissible load on interregional networks due to a power flow towards the Mangystau region. To avoid a major accident, the automatic load shedding system (ALSS) on JSC 'KEGOC' networks was triggered, after which power engineers began gradually restoring electricity supply.