Winter weather causing electricity problems in Groningen

Residents of the northern and eastern parts of the Netherlands may again have to deal with interruptions in the power supply on Monday morning. The weight of ice buildup due to the winter weather, make the power lines "bounce" resulting in occasional falters in the supply, NOS reports. The problems started early on Sunday evening. Residents of Groningen, Drenthe and Overijssel experienced, among other things, flashing lights caused by the strong winds blowing on the power lines. The power dips also caused problems with the train traffic between Assen and Groningen. Grid operator Tennet spent Sunday night trying to establish which lines are causing the problems. "It was difficult to see because it was dark and the weather conditions did not help", a spokesperson said to the broadcaster. The search will continue in daylight. Tennet emphasizes that the power dips are not dangerous. "The flow is briefly interrupted, but there is no long-term power outages." Emergency services in Groningen are standing ready in case a problem does arise, especially surrounding vulnerable places like hospitals and nursing homes.