Almost a month after Storm Kristin (tempestade Kristin) hit mainland Portugal on January 28, around 4,500 E‑Redes customers remain without electricity in the worst‑affected areas, the company said. The telecoms regulator ANACOM expects problems in the fixed communications network to continue until mid‑June, complicating recovery and repairs. E‑Redes says restoration work is ongoing; affected residents should check the operator’s updates and local municipal notices for temporary power or communications arrangements. Those living in the impacted municipalities should note possible continued service interruptions.
4,500 customers still without power after Kristin
Friday, 20 February 2026AI summary
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.
ANACOM is Portugal's national regulator for communications (Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações). It supervises telecoms, internet, radio and postal services, handles consumer complaints and can fine providers; after Storm Kristin it warned fixed-network problems in affected regions may persist until mid‑June. Those with ongoing phone or internet outages should first report them to their provider and can escalate unresolved complaints to ANACOM.
Storm Kristin was a named Atlantic storm that struck Portugal in late 2024, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds (gusts exceeding 100 km/h in some areas), and significant coastal wave action. The storm caused widespread flooding, roof collapses, fallen trees, and power outages across several districts.
IPMA issued orange and red warnings for affected regions, and ANEPC activated emergency response plans. The impact was particularly severe in flood-prone areas of the Lisbon metropolitan area and the Tagus and Mondego river basins, where drainage systems were overwhelmed.
Storm Kristin highlighted recurring vulnerabilities in Portugal's infrastructure during extreme weather events — including urban drainage capacity, riverbank management, and the need for updated emergency response coordination. Residents in storm-affected areas were advised to follow civil protection guidance, avoid coastal zones and riverbanks, and report damage through municipal services.
