Power outage continues for Pekka Jalkanen in Rautalampi, Finland

Pekka Jalkanen, a 79-year-old composer, has endured a power outage lasting over 38 hours in Rautalampi, North Savo. Currently, hundreds of households in the Savon Voima region remain without electricity. Jalkanen’s power interruption began after 9 PM on Wednesday. His home relies on geothermal heating, which requires electricity to function. With outside temperatures hovering around freezing, the indoor climate has become somewhat cooler. He has been using his fireplace, oven, and stovetop to generate heat.

Despite the discomfort, Jalkanen remains optimistic, stating, “We can manage. It’s not going to freeze in here.” Following the storm, he spent the previous day clearing snow, which took up most of his time. He has been making do with candlelight and listening to a battery-operated radio, finding it most challenging to prepare meals using a headlamp for visibility.

Jalkanen expressed his concern that power lines in remote areas are often repaired last during outages. He believes that clear-cutting in the region has made trees more susceptible to wind damage during storms. Additionally, he hopes that future efforts will bury the power lines underground to improve reliability.

Having lived near the South Konnevesi National Park for a decade, Jalkanen has experienced multiple power outages, some lasting over 12 hours, including a prior extended interruption before the recent storm named Jari.

According to Savon Voima’s network manager, power restoration is expected to be completed by early evening. However, Jalkanen is aware that delays could lead to significant compensation adjustments for service interruptions.