Lanzarote Power Cut: What Happened This Morning
Lanzarote woke up to a major power cut this morning after a widespread electricity failure affected most of the island during the early hours of Saturday.
The incident, described by the Canary Islands Government as a “cero energético” (total energy blackout), happened at around 5:44am and affected electricity supplies across much of Lanzarote and La Graciosa. Playa Blanca was the main exception, as its electricity supply is connected to Fuerteventura.
According to the Canary Islands Government, the first problem occurred on the 66 kV electrical network at the Mácher substation in Tías. The initial interruption affected approximately 51,703 customers. Around four minutes later, while the system was being restored, further problems affected the San Bartolomé and Punta Grande substations, bringing the total number of affected customers to around 73,600.
Power was progressively restored during the morning and the Cabildo later confirmed that electricity supplies had been restored. The exact technical cause of the incident was still being investigated in the latest information available.
How did the Lanzarote blackout affect the island?
The electricity outage was widespread, with homes, businesses and essential infrastructure affected in different areas.
For tourists staying in Puerto del Carmen, Costa Teguise, Arrecife, Playa Honda, Playa Blanca and other parts of Lanzarote, the interruption could have meant temporary problems with lighting, lifts, electronic payment systems and other services.
The impact was not identical everywhere. Playa Blanca maintained electricity because of its connection to the Fuerteventura electricity network, while other parts of the island experienced the blackout.
Water supply is also an important part of the story.
Why can a power cut affect water in Lanzarote?
Lanzarote relies heavily on desalination to produce drinking water. The island's desalination plants require electricity to operate, meaning a major electricity failure can also interrupt water production.
Aguas de Lanzarote y La Graciosa reported that the blackout temporarily stopped desalination production. Even after electricity was restored, the water system did not immediately return to normal because the desalination facilities needed to restart and stabilise.
As a result, residents and visitors were warned that temporary water interruptions, lower water pressure or other supply problems could occur in different parts of Lanzarote during Saturday.
The authorities asked people to use water responsibly and avoid unnecessary consumption while the system returned to normal.
Is Lanzarote still under an emergency alert?
The Canary Islands Government activated a pre-alert under the regional emergency plan, PLATECA, because of the potential effect on basic services. The Cabildo also placed the Lanzarote Island Emergency Plan, PEIN, on pre-alert while services were monitored.
This does not mean that tourists should avoid travelling to Lanzarote. The measures are part of the authorities' response and monitoring arrangements following the incident.
What should tourists in Lanzarote do?
If you are currently on holiday in Lanzarote, there is no need to panic. Electricity has been restored, but some services may take longer to fully stabilise.
If you experience a temporary water interruption:
• Use water sensibly and avoid unnecessary consumption.
• Keep an eye on updates from the Cabildo, Aguas de Lanzarote and other official sources.
• If you are staying in a hotel or apartment, ask reception or your accommodation provider for the latest local information.
• Be aware that lifts, card machines and other electrically powered equipment can take a little time to return to normal after a major outage.
• Keep some bottled water available if you are staying somewhere that experiences a temporary interruption.
What does this mean for visitors to Lanzarote?
For most holidaymakers, the key point is that the major Lanzarote power outage has been resolved and electricity has been restored.
The main issue to remain aware of is the knock-on effect on the island's water network. Because Lanzarote depends on desalination, a significant electricity interruption can affect water production even after the lights come back on.
Lanzarote remains open for holidays, and normal life is continuing across the island. Anyone visiting or living here should simply follow official updates while any remaining water or service issues are resolved.
For tourists and residents in Lanzarote, this morning's blackout was a significant disruption, but the immediate electricity problem was brought under control. The focus now is on ensuring water production, pumping and distribution systems return fully to normal.
