SUBSCRIBE
PROFILE

Chile: Electricity restored to 90% of households after near-total blackout

After a massive power outage affecting more than 95% of the population, 90% of Chilean households regained electricity overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday. The country remains in shock following a failure that paralysed the power grid.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

SUBSCRIBE - 99$/year

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

7-Day Pass

Up to 50 articles accessible for 7 days, with no automatic renewal

3 $/week*

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles/month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 30,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

Power was restored to 90% of Chilean households overnight from Tuesday, February 25, to Wednesday, February 26, 2025, after a massive blackout that paralysed large parts of the country. According to the national grid operator, 90% of consumption had been restored by midnight on Wednesday, February 26, though some areas remain affected. The outage, which began at 15:16 local time (18:16 GMT) on Tuesday, plunged more than 95% of Chile’s 20 million inhabitants into darkness, prompting the government to declare a state of emergency and impose a curfew across much of the country, including the capital, Santiago. This failure ranks among the most severe in the country’s history, surpassing the 2010 blackout caused by a malfunction at a power plant in the Biobio region.

Public transport, particularly Santiago’s metro system, was heavily impacted. The company was forced to evacuate thousands of passengers and suspend operations, disrupting the daily commutes of more than 2.3 million users. “I don’t know how to get home; all the buses are full,” said Maria Angélica Roman, a 45-year-old office worker. Similar reports emerged nationwide, with shops closing in Valparaiso and people trapped in lifts inside buildings.

System malfunction

Authorities quickly ruled out sabotage, stating that the blackout resulted from a technical failure in the power grid. “There is no reason to believe this was an attack,” said Interior Minister Carolina Toha. The government also assured that hospitals and prisons were equipped with backup generators. Officials announced that the curfew would be lifted at 06:00 (09:00 GMT) on Wednesday morning.

Political and social reactions

President Gabriel Boric voiced his frustration over the scale of the outage, calling the situation “scandalous” in a statement. “It is unacceptable that the daily lives of millions of Chileans are disrupted in this way by companies failing to do their job,” he said, criticising private-sector actors in the energy industry.

Authorities expect full power restoration in the coming hours, but the situation remains tense in several parts of the country, particularly in the capital and surrounding areas.

  • Popular on energynews.pro
Veolia and TotalEnergies sign agreement to optimise industrial resources
Google signs wind energy deal with Eneco for its Belgian data centre
Faria Renewables acquiert deux parcs éoliens pour un total de 30,8 MW en Grèce
EIB grants $250mn loan for Costa Rica’s first electric train
Rockpoint Gas Storage raises C$704mn in Canadian IPO
French electricity pricing reform raises concerns over increased consumer exposure
A parliamentary report questions the 2026 electricity pricing reform, warning of increased market exposure for households and a redistribution mechanism lacking clarity.
United States: Senate confirms two nominees, shifting FERC to Republican majority
The US Senate has confirmed two new commissioners to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, creating a Republican majority that could reshape the regulatory approach to national energy infrastructure.
Ottawa allocates CAD3mn to support Indigenous-led critical mineral infrastructure projects
The federal government launches a CAD3mn call for proposals to fund Indigenous participation in energy and infrastructure projects related to critical minerals.
Africa aims for local transformation to gain weight in the global energy economy
Opportunities are emerging for African countries to move from extraction to industrial manufacturing in energy technology value chains, as the 2025 G20 discussions highlight these issues.
Global renewable capacity set to double by 2030, led by solar power
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global renewable power capacity could more than double by 2030, driven by the rise of solar photovoltaics despite supply chain pressures and evolving policy frameworks.
Algeria commits $60 billion to strengthen its energy strategy by 2029
Algeria plans to allocate $60 billion to energy projects by 2029, primarily targeting upstream oil and gas, while developing petrochemicals, renewables and unconventional resources.
China’s clean tech exports reach $20bn in August
China set a record for clean technology exports in August, driven by surging sales of electric vehicles and batteries, with more than half of the growth coming from non-OECD markets.
Ukrainian strike cuts power to 5,400 homes in Belgorod region
A night-time attack on Belgorod’s power grid left thousands without electricity, according to Russian local authorities, despite partial service restoration the following morning.
French Academy of Sciences warns of economic risks linked to solar geoengineering
The French Academy of Sciences calls for a global ban on solar radiation modification, citing major risks to climate stability and the world economy.
Federal shutdown threatens permit delays and energy projects in the United States
The halt of US federal services disrupts the entire decision-making chain for energy and mining projects, with growing risks of administrative delays and missing critical data.
US energy agencies prepare to suspend operations amid budget deadlock
Facing a potential federal government shutdown, multiple US energy agencies are preparing to suspend services and furlough thousands of employees.
EMBER: Chile could save $15mn annually by reducing renewable energy losses
A report reveals the economic impact of renewable energy losses in Chile, indicating that a 1% drop in curtailments could generate $15mn in annual savings.
Denmark increases energy security after unidentified drone flyovers
Faced with growing threats to its infrastructure, Denmark raises its energy alert level in response to a series of unidentified drone flyovers and ongoing geopolitical tensions.
France: Lecornu rules out a freeze on solar and wind power
The Prime Minister dismissed rumours of a moratorium on renewables, as the upcoming energy roadmap triggers tensions within the sector.
Kuwait adds 14 GW of power capacity by 2031 to avoid shortages
Kuwait plans to develop 14.05 GW of new power capacity by 2031 to meet growing demand and reduce scheduled outages, driven by extreme temperatures and maintenance delays.
Ignite Power joins the $270 million Pro Energia+ programme in Mozambique
The partnership with the World Bank-funded Pro Energia+ programme aims to expand electricity access in Mozambique by targeting rural communities through a results-based financing mechanism.
Brussels imposes a new fee system for monitoring energy markets
The European Commission strengthens ACER’s funding through a new fee structure applied to reporting entities, aimed at supporting increased surveillance of wholesale energy market transactions.
EDF faces €460bn investment programme as Court of Auditors warns the state
France’s Court of Auditors is urging clarity on EDF’s financing structure, as the public utility confronts a €460bn investment programme through 2040 to support its new nuclear reactor rollout.
Washington to return $13bn in unobligated energy transition funds
The U.S. Department of Energy will return more than $13bn in unspent funds originally allocated to climate initiatives, in line with the Trump administration’s new budget policy.
Trump threatens IEA with withdrawal if anti-oil stance is not revised
Under pressure from Washington, the International Energy Agency reintroduces a pro-fossil scenario in its report, marking a shift in its direction amid rising tensions with the Trump administration.

All the latest energy news, all the time

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

START - 99$/year

7 DAY PASS

Up to 50 items can be consulted for 7 days,
without automatic renewal

3$/week*

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.