The chairman of E-Redes' board of directors, José Ferrari Careto, says that if management of the low-voltage network had been separated from the other voltage levels, responding to the blackout would have been more difficult. This option had already been on the table given the conditions under which the last Socialist government ...
E-Redes warns that separating low-voltage management would have made responding to the blackout more difficult
Wednesday, 7 January 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
E-Redes (formerly EDP Distribuição) is the company that operates Portugal's low- and medium-voltage electricity distribution network, serving over 99% of mainland Portugal. It is a subsidiary of EDP (Energias de Portugal), the country's largest energy utility.
E-Redes is responsible for maintaining power lines, substations, and transformers; connecting new customers and solar panels to the grid; reading meters; and restoring power after outages. It operates under a concession granted by the Portuguese government and is regulated by ERSE (Entidade Reguladora dos Serviços Energéticos).
During storms and extreme weather, E-Redes coordinates emergency repair crews to restore electricity supply. Residents can report outages and check restoration timelines through the E-Redes website or app. The company is also central to Portugal's energy transition, managing the integration of growing rooftop solar and electric vehicle charging into the distribution grid.
