Montenegro recorded its highest-ever daily electricity consumption on 12 August, with demand reaching 12,218 MWh. The figure was reached despite wildfire-related network interruptions that disconnected thousands of customers for part of the day. Distribution system operator CEDIS said consumption exceeded the previous record set exactly a year earlier by 113 MWh.
Wildfires disrupt distribution and transmission connections near Herceg Novi
The record was achieved under difficult operating conditions around Herceg Novi, where wildfires created significant problems for the distribution network. CEDIS temporarily disconnected two 35 kV transmission connections, including the Herceg Novi-Topla line. The disruption on the Herceg Novi-Kumbor connection lasted considerably longer.
Around 10,800 customers were affected on the Herceg Novi-Kumbor connection, with an average interruption lasting 238 minutes. CEDIS then attempted to reroute electricity through alternative sections of the network. Those actions were followed by additional technical difficulties and further outages.
Total energy delivered still exceeds prior national record
Despite the interruptions, total energy delivered during the day still exceeded the previous national record. This indicates that underlying demand would have been even higher without the supply disruptions. The episode points to how Montenegro’s summer load profile can intensify during peak holiday periods.
The summer pattern is linked to tourism, air-conditioning use and high coastal occupancy, which can push consumption sharply higher. This seasonal challenge differs from the traditional winter load profile seen in some continental Balkan markets. The situation is also relevant because Montenegro has historically relied on imported electricity when domestic generation cannot cover demand.
Implications for generation position and cross-border price exposure
High summer consumption affects not only CEDIS’s distribution network but also EPCG’s generation position. It also influences Montenegro’s exposure to regional day-ahead and cross-border electricity prices. Wildfire risk adds an additional factor to that exposure as extreme heat can raise demand while threatening transmission and distribution infrastructure.
The 12,218 MWh record shows that Montenegro experienced peak consumption while parts of local network assets were already under operational stress. The combination of high demand and constrained network operation occurred during the same period as wildfire-related outages.
