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Preparing for rotating power outages at UEF

Due to energy shortages resulting from the global energy crisis, locally imposed rotating power outages are possible, and they will affect the staff, students and partners working on the Joensuu and Kuopio Campus of the University of Eastern Finland (UEF).

The university is preparing for possible rotating power outages, also known as rolling blackouts. The university has prepared practical instructions for power outages, all of which can be found on this website.

Finland’s transmission system operator Fingrid is responsible for electricity distribution throughout the country. For UEF’s campuses, electricity is supplied by the electricity distribution company Caruna in Joensuu, and by Kuopion Sähköverkko Oy in Kuopio.

Whenever possible, electricity distribution companies will inform of power outages in advance, and UEF will keep its staff and students informed via email and internal channels (Yammer and Heimo news). Also, the partners working on our campuses will be notified of power outages.

However, also sudden power outages are possible, and their timing or duration cannot be predicted. In these urgent cases, we will inform our community via SMS, emails and other internal channels.

The university will inform of possible power outages on weekdays between 8 am and 4 pm. At other times, information about power outages is available on the websites of Caruna and Kuopion Sähköverkko.

The university does not restrict the use of its facilities during a power outage. Staff and students may continue to work on campus at their own discretion and as possible, while also taking safety considerations into account.

The university’s Safety and Security Team will monitor the electricity distribution situation, determining the actions to be taken as needed. Questions relating to rotating power outages can be sent to turvaryhma@uef.fi.

Practical instructions for power outages

  • Controlled shutdown or protection of research equipment will be done according to each unit’s own plans in the event of an upcoming power outage.
  • Information on the arrangements relating to teaching and teaching facilities will be shared on Yammer and Kamu. Joint recommendations will be prepared for teaching situations affected by power outages, e.g., for electronic exams that may get interrupted.
  • Any changes caused by a power outage to teaching arrangements will be communicated to students by the teacher responsible for the course via a channel that reaches the students.
  • The preparations for power outages by the teacher training schools must consider, e.g., safety, school meals, effects of power outages on the school day, and how these are communicated.

Power outage preparedness checklist

  • Before a power outage: Make sure your laptop and phone are charged. If you have a powerpack at your disposal, be prepared to use it. Think about the effects of a power outage on your work in advance.
  • During a power outage: Follow the university’s instructions, prioritise your work and continue working as possible. Follow the information shared about the power outage. Use your devices in an energy-saving manner. Avoid unnecessary calls, as mobile networks may get overloaded.
  • After a power outage: The start-up and functioning of devices should be checked as soon as possible after power has been restored. Start using your electronic devices gradually, one by one, so that a sudden load peak won’t cause another outage.

Energy saving

  • The lights will go out. The buildings have a backup system for exit and safety lights, and these will remain on even in the event of a power outage.
  • The heating of the buildings will be interrupted. However, short power outages lasting for a few hours will not cause a major drop in temperature.
  • Ventilation will stop. This also applies to fume cupboards, so laboratory work is not safe during a power outage.
  • Fire detectors and fire alarms are backed up by battery, so there is no risk to fire safety.
  • Access controlled doors will be locked, but the door open push buttons and access badges are backed up by battery.
  • Elevators will not function and may get stuck between floors during a power outage. Instructions for power outages will be drawn up and placed inside elevators. If you get stuck in the elevator, press the alarm button and wait calmly. The elevator alarm system is backed up by battery, and there is no risk of running out of oxygen. Elevator maintenance personnel will come to assistance as quickly as possible. During a power outage, you may not force the elevator doors open. In case of an emergency, call the emergency number 112.
  • The supply of cold tap water will work normally, although there may be fluctuations in water pressure.
  • Problems are more likely in the supply of warm water, and there may be significant variation in water temperature. Water coming out of the tap may be burning hot, so warm water should be used with caution.
  • In the event of a long and extensive power outage, the supply of water may be cut off completely. Therefore, the use of water and toilets should be avoided during a power outage.
  • No matches or candles may be lit in the university’s facilities (risk of a fire alarm or fire).
  • Networks in offices and classrooms, and IT and AV devices, will not be available.
  • The use of Exam facilities will be interrupted.
  • Cafeteria and restaurant services will not be available. More detailed information on the effects of power outages is available on the campus restaurants’ websites.
  • IT help desks in the Canthia and Carelia buildings will be closed.
  • The UEF Library’s on-campus services will not be available, but the facilities will remain open, while taking matters related to safety into consideration.
  • During a power outage, the wireless and fixed networks on campus will not be available. The networks will go offline approximately 30 minutes before the power outage, and it will take about 30–60 minutes to restore them after power is restored.
  • Mobile data networks can be used, but there may be disturbances in them, too.
  • The servers in the university’s server rooms are backed up by uninterruptible power systems and can be accessed remotely.
  • UEF’s information systems can be accessed remotely regardless of a power outage on campus.
  • Saved data is safe, but any unsaved data may be lost or only partially saved in the event of a power outage.  Check the accuracy of the data content carefully after power is restored.
  • IT Services will inform users of any possible interruptions of service, as well as of any sudden changes or disruptions. For updates, follow the IT Services group on Yammer. Information will also be updated on the asiointi.uef.fi and status.uef.fi websites, and shared on IT Services’ Twitter account, @Uefit.
  • The IT ServiceDesk will be available as per normal opening hours.

Teaching and studying instructions for power outages

For teachers

Staff members will be notified of anticipated power outages by email (work email). If a power outage is sudden and unexpected, staff members will also receive an SMS to their work phone. The academic community will also be informed of power outages via internal communication channels (Yammer and Heimo news).

Be prepared for power outages:

  • Keep your phone and laptop charged.
  • Get to know the routes to exit your building.
  • Learn how to use the flashlight on your mobile phone.
  • Please note that during a power outage, the building’s data connections will not work, and mobile networks may get overloaded.

Changes to the curriculum during the academic year have been delegated to the deputy heads of department responsible for teaching (in the Faculty of Health Sciences, to the heads of department).

The teacher informs the students of any changes to teaching or exams via regular channels of student communications (e.g., Teams groups, Yammer, email).

  • However, if the teacher does not reach the students, or there is no time to inform them, the exam/teaching will not be started.
  • As a rule, teaching/exams will be postponed to another time (may be moved online if it is known that connections are working, and all students are able to participate).
  • Ask the students to remain seated and wait for five minutes in case power gets restored.
  • If the power outage continues for longer than five minutes, tell the students how to the course will be continued, and how the missed class will be compensated or, if necessary, reorganised. Ask the students to leave the classroom in a calm and orderly manner.
  • Follow the general safety guidelines, which are available at uef.fi/en/alert.
  • If power gets restored within five minutes, the exam can be picked up from where it was left off before the power outage.
  • If the power outage continues for longer than five minutes, discontinue the exam. The exam supervisors or the teacher in charge of supervising the exam will show the students out of the exam room safely.
  • If an exam has to be discontinued due to a power outage, a new exam is sought to be organised as soon as possible.
  • The examiner will set a new date for the exam and decide on the possible evaluation of the discontinued exam.
  • If the power outage lasts for a maximum of five minutes and the tools used for online teaching work normally after power gets restored, you can pick up the online class or the online exam from where you left off.
  • If the power outage or interruption caused by it persists for longer than five minutes, discontinue the class or the exam.
  • If a student is prevented from participating in the class or the exam due to a power outage in their area, they must contact the teacher separately.
  • Inform the students about how to the course will be continued, and how the missed class or exam will be compensated or, if necessary, reorganised.
  • A new exam is sought to be organised as soon as possible. The examiner will set a new date for the exam and decide on the possible evaluation of the discontinued exam.
  • For more information on electronic exams, see Appendix 2 (PDF file requires UEF login).

For students

    • The university’s practical instructions on power outage preparedness and power outages are available at uef.fi/en/alert. For your own safety and the safety of others, please follow the instructions.
    • Stay calm and, if possible, go to a better-lit area.
    • If you get stuck in a lift during a power outage, press the alarm button and wait for help. The alarm system works even during a power outage. You may have to wait for assistance because several lifts will have stopped in the area affected by the power outage.
    • If your class or classroom exam gets interrupted by a power outage, remain seated and calm, and wait for instructions from your teacher.
  • If in-class teaching is interrupted by a power outage for more than five minutes, the teacher will explain how the course will be continued, and how the missed class will be compensated or, if necessary, reorganised. The teacher will show the students out of the classroom.
  • If a classroom exam is interrupted by a power outage for more than five minutes, the exam will be discontinued and the exam supervisors or the teacher responsible for supervising the exam will show the students out of the exam room. The examiner will set a new date for the exam and decide on the possible evaluation of the discontinued exam. A new exam is sought to be organised as soon as possible.
  • Instructions for power outages in the Exam rooms can be found in each room. Read the instructions before your Exam begins. If you wish, you can read the instructions already beforehand in Appendix 1 (PDF file).
  • If the power outage lasts for a maximum of five minutes and the tools used for online teaching can be used normally after power gets restored, the online class or the online exam can be picked up from where it was left off.
  • If you do not receive instructions from your teacher regarding the cancelled/interrupted class/exam, please contact the teacher.
  • If the power outage or disturbance caused by it persists after five minutes, the class/exam will be discontinued.
  • The teacher will inform the students about how the course will be continued, and how the missed class/exam will be compensated or, if necessary, reorganised.
  • A new exam is sought to be organised as soon as possible. The examiner will set a new date for the exam and decide on the possible evaluation of the discontinued exam.

Further information

Questions relating to rotating power outages can be sent to turvaryhma@uef.fi.