Some 3,000 households, mostly in the wider Athens area’s northeastern section, are estimated to remain without electricity following a heavy snowstorm that peaked in the region Monday, leaving approximately 200,000 households powerless, according to a latest estimate this morning.

Distribution network operator DEDDIE/HEDNO crews are continuing repair work on four main lines, pending issues mainly concerning supply to the capital’s northeastern areas Kato Souli, Grammatiko, Schinia and Pikermi, as well as a smaller number of isolated cases.

Late last night, between 5,000 and 10,000 households were still without electricity, while, early yesterday, approximately 200,000 households were powerless. In some cases, residents in areas just 12 kilometers from the center of Athens needed to persevere without power for at least 36 hours.

Consumers have, understandably, lodged numerous complaints. Besides faulty planning and the responsibilities of authorities, the absence of smart meters was sorely missing, once again, as was the case with a heavy snowstorm last winter.

Smart meters offer a real-time picture on damages, serving as a type of radar that pinpoints network damages that enables technical crews to immediately focus on trouble spots rather than search and work haphazardly.

This explains why DEDDIE/HEDNO, the distribution network operator, relies on consumer updates to locate areas without low-voltage supply, a backwards need in the digital era.

Following many delays, the installation of smart meters at households around the country is now estimated to begin late this year.