Severe Weather in Casablanca: ONEE Restores Power to Affected Areas After an Exceptional Incident

Rabat – Storm Charles, which is affecting several regions along the Kingdom’s northern Atlantic coast, caused a power outage on Wednesday at 4:55 PM in some neighborhoods of Casablanca, including the city center, Maarif, El Fida, Ain Chock, Ben M’sick, Sbata, Sidi Othmane, Hay Hassani, as well as some areas of the Nouaceur province, including Bouskoura, Ouled Azzouz, and Dar Bouazza.

In a press release, the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) indicates that this unprecedented incident, caused by the strong winds and storms hitting the region, simultaneously damaged the four separate 225 kV power lines that supply the main and backup N-1, N-2, and N-3 power to the Ouled Haddou and Dar Bouazza substations. This constitutes an exceptional event of rare intensity.

As soon as the incident occurred, ONEE urgently activated its crisis management team and immediately mobilized its technical teams to undertake the necessary interventions to restore power. This allowed for a partial restoration of electricity starting at 6:23 p.m. and full power to all affected substations by 8:54 p.m., the same source added.

These operations were carried out in close coordination with local authorities and the Casablanca-Settat Regional Multiservices Company to ensure a return to normal as quickly as possible, the Office stated.

ONEE commends the responsiveness and mobilization of all the teams who intervened in particularly difficult weather conditions and reaffirms its commitment to ensuring the security and continuity of the national electricity supply under the best possible conditions.

“ONEE wishes to express its apologies to citizens and users affected by the inconvenience caused by this exceptional incident, which was beyond its control, and will maintain its enhanced vigilance measures until the end of this weather event,” the statement concluded.