The activation of an institutional roundtable and the preparation of an extraordinary plan to strengthen the regional electricity grid : this is what ANCI Sardegna is requesting in a letter sent to the heads of E-Distribuzione, Terna, and ARERA following the numerous blackouts that have affected dozens of municipalities in Sardinia in recent days.
The note was also forwarded, for information, to the President of the Region, the regional councilors, the President of the Regional Council, and the Director General of Civil Protection.
In the letter, ANCI Sardinia highlights how the exceptional heat wave currently affecting the island has placed severe pressure on the regional electricity system , causing power outages that in several cases lasted for several hours, with serious repercussions for residents, tourists, and businesses . At the same time, the Association emphasizes the need to address the issue from a structural perspective , in light of extreme weather events expected to become increasingly frequent.
"Climate change is profoundly altering the landscape in which our infrastructure operates," states ANCI Sardegna President Daniela Falconi . " Events that until a few years ago might have been considered exceptional are now at risk of becoming increasingly frequent . This is why we need to question the electricity grid's ability to guarantee service continuity even in extreme conditions. We cannot limit ourselves to managing emergencies: we need structural investments and planning capable of making networks resilient to new climate scenarios. Electricity is now an essential infrastructure like water or telecommunications, and its continuity is a right for citizens, businesses, and public services."
For ANCI Sardinia, the issue isn't just about the disruptions experienced in recent days, but the need to adapt one of Sardinia's key strategic infrastructures to climate change through long-term planning and targeted investments.
"Mayors," adds Francesco Spiga, President of the Regional Council of ANCI Sardinia, "are the first line of defense for local communities and, whenever a blackout occurs, they are called upon to respond to citizens, address critical issues with essential services, and manage situations that often affect the most vulnerable segments of the population. It is therefore essential to build a stable relationship of dialogue between grid operators, the Region, and the system of local governments. The proposal for an institutional forum stems precisely from the need to jointly plan interventions and prevent, as far as possible, the recurrence of these situations."
THE PROPOSAL – In the letter, ANCI Sardegna proposes the establishment of a permanent working group between E-Distribuzione, Terna, the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, ARERA, the Civil Protection Department, and ANCI Sardegna . The aim is to analyze the critical issues facing the regional electricity grid, share the necessary investments to increase its resilience, develop a special plan to upgrade infrastructure, and strengthen coordination with municipalities during emergencies.
"Municipalities are already doing their part," ANCI Sardinia concludes, "by investing in fire prevention, civil protection, and adapting their territories to the effects of climate change. It is essential that the country's strategic infrastructure also be adapted to new scenarios, through forward-looking planning and investments consistent with the challenges ahead. Heat waves can no longer be considered exceptional events. Every summer cannot turn into another electricity emergency."
(Unioneonline/vl)