Overview
- Stromnetz Berlin said about 45,500 households and 2,200 businesses initially lost electricity after high‑voltage cables burned near a power plant in Lichterfelde.
- Berlin authorities estimate roughly 35,000 households will remain without power until the afternoon of January 8, with most other customers expected back online by January 4.
- Freezing conditions are slowing the laying of replacement underground cables, and the grid operator warned repairs will take a long time.
- The outage is affecting care facilities, hospitals, and social institutions, and the local district heating network has been disrupted because it relies on electricity.
- Around 160 police officers were deployed and used loudspeaker vans to advise residents, while train stations saw ticket machines and information boards fail even as trains continued to run.