Residents of Makhachkala complained about prolonged power outages.

The mayor's office of Makhachkala asked citizens not to use powerful electrical appliances due to the overload of electrical networks. The request caused irritation among the townspeople, who pointed out that the authorities in the republic and the city change, but the problems with electricity remain unresolved.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", residents of Makhachkala regularly complain about problems with electricity and water supply. At the end of July 2025, Makhachkala residents complained about prolonged power outages lasting several days. Officials explained the power interruptions by repair work and abnormal heat. In August 2025, residents of the Reducer settlement held a spontaneous street action due to the lack of electricity in their homes. After that, the city administration reported that the power supply to most homes had been restored.

The mayor's address caused irritation among commentators

On July 24, the administration of Makhachkala posted a message on its Telegram channel addressing the city's residents with a request to limit the use of powerful energy-consuming devices. This information caused outrage among the townspeople, who believe that the mayor's office is not taking sufficient measures to provide people with quality electricity supply.

"Due to abnormally high air temperatures and a significant increase in power consumption during the summer period, the city's electrical network equipment operates under maximum load conditions. This mode of operation leads to critical overheating of transformers, cable lines, and distribution devices, which, in turn, causes emergency outages and interruptions in electricity supply to consumers. To prevent large-scale technological disruptions and the failure of expensive equipment, as well as to ensure the stable operation of the energy system as a whole, there is an acute need to reduce the total load on the city networks," the mayor's publication states.

In this regard, the authorities appealed to the residents of Makhachkala with a request to "minimize the use of powerful energy-consuming devices during peak load hours from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM," noting that this measure is forced and temporary.

Commenting on this post, Makhachkala residents criticized the mayor's address.

"Are you trying to reduce the population of Makhachkala this way? It is precisely during these hours that air conditioners need to be turned on, especially for adults and the elderly. Normalize your work," wrote a user with the nickname A.

"Last summer was hotter than this one, what are you talking about? Half of the summer has passed, and suddenly there is an overload now. Yesterday at the address A. Sultana 37a, we were without electricity from 1 PM to 1 AM," writes Albert M.

We would have calmly accepted this with understanding if we hadn't already been asked to be understanding in winter, last summer, and the winter before that, and so on.

"I suggest that for one week a month, air conditioners not be turned on in all budget organizations; that’s where the savings will be," believes @@@.

"We would have calmly accepted this with understanding if we hadn't already been asked to be understanding in winter, last summer, and the winter before that, and so on. Two years ago, for almost six months, half the city was turned off every day for 'scheduled repair work' for at least 4-6 hours, and nothing has changed since then," wrote Anastasia.

Residents complained about daily power outages

A resident of Makhachkala Arthur, living on Daniyalov Street, told a correspondent from "Caucasian Knot" that they experience power outages almost daily.

"In the last week, the power has been turned off every other day for several hours, especially in the evenings. We have an electric water heater, and we can't wash dishes or take a shower. We are afraid that our appliances will break down," says Arthur.

There is no electricity for 5-6 hours every day. And this is the city center. Traffic lights are not working.

"On Batyraya Street and the adjacent streets, there is no electricity for 5-6 hours every day. And this is the city center. Traffic lights are not working. Yesterday, I almost saw a child get hit while trying to cross the street amidst a crowd of cars. The city networks don't answer the phone, or they respond with 'we're looking into it'," said Murad.

"On Rasul Gamzatov Avenue, there are daily outages. We can't turn on the air conditioner; we sit in the dark in the evening. It's just some kind of mockery. They don't answer calls," says Nazir.

Power outages continue despite complaints

The director of the Avar Theater located in Makhachkala, Magomed Bisavaliev, wrote on his Telegram channel that the theater's work is paralyzed due to power outages.

The management of the City Electric Networks has changed, the new city authorities, the new leadership of the republic - they still turn off the power.

"This is some kind of curse; I can't find any other explanation. Today, during the day, both lines at the Avar Theater and on Pushkin Street were turned off, preventing us from working. The worst part is that a million-strong city has gotten used to this and says, 'you are not alone in this problem.' From 'Dagenergo', this is some kind of sabotage against people, their work, and common sense in general. A year has passed since last summer. They turned off the power in July last year in exactly the same way. After that, the management of the City Electric Networks changed, the new city authorities, the new leadership of the republic - they still turn off the power. And there is no explanation of what is happening, why they don't provide electricity to a cultural facility at least through a backup line that we installed at our own expense. Are they suggesting we buy generators and gasoline at 140 rubles per liter?" asks Bisavaliev.

"The number of complaints about power outages in Makhachkala has increased significantly. In some areas of the city, people are left without electricity for a day or more, while in others, electricity is regularly turned off in a rolling blackout mode," writes the Telegram channel "Ask Rasul".

The Telegram channel "Lighting in Dagestan", which positions itself as "feedback on electricity supply issues" and has 5,973 subscribers, publishes a list of addresses daily where electricity supply is limited.

On July 26, "due to a technological disruption at the TP 'Burnaya', electricity supply to consumers on the following streets in the center of Makhachkala was announced: Magomed Yaragsky, Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov, Yermoshkin, and Suleiman Stalsky. In addition, due to work being carried out on the application on Feeder No. 5 from the PS 'Compass', electricity supply to consumers on more than 20 streets in Makhachkala is limited.

"What does overload have to do with it - they say, 'everyone turned on their air conditioners, and everything can't handle it.' In other regions, millions turn on at once, and everything is fine, but only in Dagestan do such problems exist. Wind, rain, snow, heat, no light
and no water. I have, for example, an infant; I need water, light, and I also work online, and due to constant outages, I am about to be fired. This is mockery for people. I have a friend whose child has a device at home that helps him breathe, and such fluctuations will lead to a fatal outcome," commented one of the readers
of the channel.

Let us remind you that in August 2023, several protests against power outages took place in Makhachkala. On the evening of August 25, local residents blocked traffic in Semender, after which the mayor's office reported the resumption of electricity supply. On August 26, residents of Gamidov Street achieved the restoration of electricity supply after blocking the road.

Makhachkalintsy should more actively fight for their rights through official complaints about interruptions in electricity supply, said Dagestani activists and explained the procedure for submitting complaints at a meeting with residents of the Reducer settlement.