1. Overview of the power outage in Berlin (January 3, 2026)
On 3 January 2026, an arson attack on a cable bridge over the Teltowkanal in Berlin-Lichterfelde destroyed five high-voltage cables. The damage left roughly 45,000 households and more than 2,200 businesses across Nikolassee, Zehlendorf, Wannsee and Lichterfelde without electricity and district heating during a severe cold wave.
Cause and classification
The police treated the incident as an act of politically motivated sabotage and cited a claim of responsibility linked to an extremist group calling for a break with fossil fuels. Local authorities characterized the perpetrators as politically extreme and launched a criminal investigation.
With temperatures below freezing, apartments cooled rapidly. Residents reported indoor temperatures close to freezing — one interviewee described the situation as ‘unbearable’ and said their flat measured around 5°C. Elevators, heating systems and some communications failed, increasing the urgency of the situation.
Immediate effects on homes and businesses
The outage affected both electricity and district heating for tens of thousands of people and thousands of businesses. Critical services were disrupted: hospitals and care homes switched to emergency power, schools and kindergartens closed temporarily, and the local district opened emergency shelters while advising residents to seek refuge with family, friends or acquaintances where possible.
2. Impact on residents, services and health
Losing heat in subzero temperatures posed a clear health risk. Older adults, infants and people with chronic illnesses were especially vulnerable. Rapidly falling indoor temperatures increased the danger of hypothermia, and the interruption of elevators and some communications made it harder for people with mobility issues to get help quickly.
Hospitals, care homes and emergency services
Hospitals and nursing homes relied on backup generators to keep essential medical devices functioning. Emergency call handling was prioritized so that life‑threatening calls could still be answered, but routine care and non‑critical services faced disruption as staff worked to maintain safety in difficult conditions.
Community and district response
The district organized temporary shelters and publicly recommended that people stay with family, friends or acquaintances while the outage continued. Community volunteers, neighbors and local officials checked on the most vulnerable and coordinated short‑term housing for those at highest risk from the cold.
3. Restoration efforts and timeline
The grid operator warned that full restoration could take until Thursday, 8 January, because the damage to several high-voltage cables was severe and repairs were extensive. Repair teams worked continuously to restore electricity and district heating to affected areas.
Timeline
- 3 January 2026: Arson attack damages a cable bridge and destroys five high-voltage cables; power and district heating fail for tens of thousands of customers.
- Immediate response: Hospitals switch to emergency power, schools and kindergartens close, emergency shelters are opened and residents are urged to seek shelter with family or friends.
- Initial prognosis: Grid operator estimates full restoration by 8 January due to the severity of the damage.
- 7 January 2026: Supply reported restored earlier than the worst-case forecast, with authorities warning that short-term interruptions could still occur.
Despite the initial worst‑case estimate, authorities reported that supply was fully restored on 7 January, one day earlier than projected. Officials cautioned that short, intermittent outages could still occur as final checks and follow‑up repairs continued.
4. Debate on infrastructure resilience
The incident exposed vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure and led to criticism about a lack of redundancies in the electricity and district heating networks. Observers said a single point of failure could have disproportionate consequences for many households and businesses during extreme weather.
Civic groups and experts used the event to call for investments to strengthen grid resilience, including more redundant supply routes, faster repair capacity and improved emergency planning to reduce the impact of future incidents, whether accidental or deliberate.
5. Advice for residents and communities
Local authorities recommended that people affected by the outage seek shelter with family or friends or use designated emergency shelters. Community support — checking on elderly or isolated neighbors and coordinating short‑term housing for those at risk — played an important role during the cold spell.
- Follow official guidance from local authorities and emergency services.
- Seek shelter with family, friends or in emergency accommodation if heating is lost.
- Check on elderly, disabled and otherwise vulnerable neighbors.
- Be prepared for the possibility of short interruptions even after supply is reported restored.
6. Conclusion
The January 2026 power outage in southwest Berlin shows how a targeted attack on energy infrastructure can quickly become a public‑safety crisis during a cold wave. Although full restoration came sooner than some feared, the event sharpened the debate over protecting critical systems and investing in redundancy so communities are better prepared for future emergencies.
