EU Probes E-Redes After 45K Homes Lose Power—How to Claim Compensation

The Portugal delegation in Brussels has been pressed by Left-wing MP Catarina Martins, whose formal complaint about the sluggish return of power after the February storms has triggered a fresh look at consumer rights and grid resilience.

Why This Matters

• 45,000 households still in the dark across Leiria, Santarém and parts of the Alentejo.

• E-Redes faces EU scrutiny over whether it mobilised “all technical and human means” fast enough.

• €2.5 Bn relief package unlocked by Lisbon, yet local mayors say funding is not reaching families quickly.

• Deadline on the table: the distributor now promises full reconnection by the end of February—but temporary fixes could mean more trips.

How We Got Here

Storms Kristin, Leonardo and Marta barrelled through Portugal over 3 consecutive weekends, downing 5,800 utility poles and flooding 24 substations. Although fierce winter fronts are common, civil-protection officials admit the scale of damage—6,300 km of network crippled—caught planners off guard. Sixteen people died, hundreds were injured and early insurance estimates put physical losses above €4 Bn, roughly the cost of building two new Lisbon metros.

The Fix: What E-Redes Is Actually Doing

The grid operator says it has deployed 2,500 field engineers, diverted crews from Porto and Faro and activated its crisis plan (POAC-RD). To shave days off repairs it is rerouting electricity through "short-cuts"—secondary lines that can be energised quickly. Executives concede those bypasses may create voltage dips and further outages, a trade-off they judge worthwhile to reconnect the bulk of customers. Focus remains on Leiria’s coast, where saltwater intrusion knocked entire switch-yards offline.

Pressure From Brussels

Martins’ three-page letter asks the European Commission if, under EU law, a distributor can leave citizens powerless for 18 days without breaching the principle of essential-service continuity. Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen replied that Brussels “stands ready” to use the Solidarity Fund but also hinted that Portugal must finish transposing the revised Renewables Directive, which includes stricter reliability clauses. Behind closed doors, Commission staff are mapping overlaps between Lisbon’s recovery plan and the TEN-E infrastructure rules to see whether delays stem from under-funded maintenance.

What This Means for Residents

• File claims early: under national rules you have 30 days to demand compensation for spoiled food or appliance damage; forms are on the ERSE regulator site.• Expect brief flickers: temporary reroutes could cause momentary shut-offs; surge protectors are advisable.• Health support: municipal clinics in blackout zones now offer free mental-health drop-ins after spikes in anxiety reports.• Stay clear of fallen lines and phone 800 506 506—the dedicated hazard line—before approaching damaged property.

The Bigger Picture: Grid Resilience Debate

Energy ministry officials argue Portugal’s overhead network, once ideal for rapid rural roll-out, is now a liability as climate change intensifies storms. Moving even 15 % of low-voltage cables underground would cost an estimated €1 Bn, but ministries point to rising compensation payouts—and political pressure from Brussels—as justification. Consumer groups want a binding timetable, while business lobbies worry about higher network tariffs.

What Happens Next

E-Redes maintains that “the last transformer will be re-energised before March begins,” yet local emergency coordinators hint some isolated hamlets could wait longer for permanent fixes. Parliament will hold a special hearing on 27 February; expect grilling on contingency planning, use of EU funds and whether partial re-nationalisation of critical assets is back on the table. For now, residents should monitor town-hall channels—and keep spare torch batteries handy.