Transformer Failure in San Carlos Causes Widespread Power Outage Affecting Nearly 19,000 Customers

On the night of Monday, February 9, 2026, an unexpected malfunction in a critical transformer unit managed by Uruguay’s national electricity company, UTE, interrupted power supply to approximately 18,607 customers in San Carlos and its northern vicinity. Initial restoration efforts managed to reconnect 5,552 customers by the early morning of February 10, with sporadic service returns continuing into midday. Despite unfavorable weather conditions involving intense storms and heavy rainfall in the country’s central-northern region complicating repair operations, UTE mobilized both internal and contracted technical teams to identify and address infrastructural damages while prioritizing personnel safety. The process to fully restore electricity was ongoing, signaling a protracted recovery amid persistent climatic disruptions.

This event follows recent instances where UTE demonstrated rapid response capabilities, such as swiftly reinstating service after a high-tension station failure that affected 300,000 users. However, the San Carlos incident suggests vulnerabilities remain in the regional subtransmission grid, necessitating continued investments in modernization and robustness, especially as the utility emphasizes sustainability and integration of renewable energy sources which currently account for 97% of its portfolio. UTE’s ongoing commitment to sustainable energy aligns with national policies promoting decarbonization, but these advancements increasingly require reinforcement of the grid infrastructure to ensure reliability.

The San Carlos outage underscores operational pressures on Uruguay’s power infrastructure amid more frequent severe weather patterns. UTE’s efforts to maintain and improve service quality include stakeholder engagement, innovation recognition, and cooperative agreements to bolster technological and strategic capacities. Market observers will monitor how UTE balances rapid restoration with long-term infrastructure resilience to mitigate impacts on consumers and maintain confidence in Uruguay’s power system.