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Grid infrastructureNetherlandsEIR-0788

Short circuit at Flevoland substations sparks fires and mass power outage

Sept 2022Published 15 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantElectrical
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
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supply cut for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hiddenFailed part hidden
Where
Electricity substations in Flevoland, Netherlands
Operator
TenneT
What
Short circuit led to fires and mass power outage
Cause
Under investigation
Outcome
Lines hung down, fires started, rail damage

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): TenneT

What happened

Two incidents occurred at electricity substations in the Dutch province of Flevoland, causing widespread power outages. According to an electrical engineering professor quoted by broadcaster NOS, a short circuit occurs when a live component comes into contact with earth, with current rising to five to ten times normal levels and cable temperatures rising sharply so that components begin to smoke, which he said was what was seen in Flevoland that day.

Grid operator TenneT eventually managed to switch off the power, but not before power lines began to hang down and several fires started. Railway infrastructure was also affected, with operator ProRail reporting considerable damage. At the time of reporting the cause was still under investigation and the damage was expected to take significant time and money to repair.

Contributing factors

Not confirmed. There was speculation about a problem on the same high-voltage line the previous year, when a fall wind blew down four electricity pylons, and about the settings used when a temporary emergency line was connected. The professor quoted stressed it was too early to say whether this was related and that the investigation would establish what went wrong.

Lessons learned

  1. High-voltage substation insulation must be inspected often, as live contact with earth caused current to rise sharply and components to smoke.
  2. Grid operators should verify protection settings on temporary emergency lines before energisation, as these may have contributed here.
  3. Substation contingency plans must cover rail networks, since the same failure caused considerable damage to ProRail infrastructure.

More lessons on electrical protection and isolation, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Exact cause of the short circuit
  • Age and model of substation equipment
  • Duration of the power outage
  • Cost of repairs to the grid

This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.

Source

transformer-magazine.com

Published 2026-09-15. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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Chart to reuse with this story: Grid infrastructure incidents by year, free with a credit (PNG).

Grid infrastructure incidents in the Netherlands: 3 entries, with a free alert for the next one.

Substation and transformer fires: the counts, the latest entries and a free alert for the next one. Also: power line and cable failures.

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