Do you live in Europe and is your digital clock running slow?

The Connexion
Sat, 10 Mar 2018 22:29 UTC

Clocks will gradually go back to the correct time if left alone - but it could take weeks

If it is, it is not the cold weather but a political dispute that is causing it...

You may not have noticed it until now - or not been bothered by it - but digital clocks on many ovens, electric alarm clocks and other devices are running about six minutes slow.

It is not your device or the cold weather that is at fault but the electricity coming into your house - it is being slowed down and it is happening to millions of others across Europe.

The problem, amazingly, lies in Kosovo and Serbia where a power dispute since January has affected the frequency at which Europe's synchronised high voltage electricity network runs and made clocks run slow.

To keep time, digital clocks on ovens and non-battery electric clocks are set by the frequency of the electric current and count the pulses, normally 50 Hz, but electricity supply problems in Kosovo and Serbia meaning it is running a fraction slower, at 49,996 Hz.

The transmission system association Entso-e, which covers 43 energy suppliers in 25 countries, says a dispute between the former warring countries has seen Kosovo reducing the amount of power it is putting into the system.

Countries are supposed to balance what they use domestically but Kosovo is not a member of Entso-e and Serbia, which is responsible for balancing Balkan production and output, refuses to do so for Kosovo and this has slowed down the frequency.

Entso-e says that there has been 113 GWh of lost power production, forcing the system to balance itself by slowing down fractionally - thus, slowing electric clocks.

It is speaking to both Kosovo and Serbia to find a political solution.

In the meantime, you can update your oven clock but until the problem is resolved it will continue to run slow and will need resetting when the problem is resolved. If left alone, the clock will go back to normal once the frequency is restored to normal.

Find the correct time on the website of the Observatoire de Paris - although it says for the exact time to call the speaking clock on 3699 (which costs €1.50 per call). You could also listen in to France Inter, which gives four beeps on the hour and the last is exactly on the hour.

Comment: Press release:

Continuing frequency deviation in the Continental European Power System originating in Serbia/Kosovo: Political solution urgently needed in addition to technical

Published: 06/03/2018

Brussels

​​The Continental European (CE) Power System -a large synchronized area stretching from Spain to Turkey and from Poland to Netherlands; encompassing 25 countries- is experiencing a continuous system frequency deviation from the mean value of 50 Hz, and this since mid of January 2018.

The power deviations are originating from the control area called Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro (SMM block) and specifically Kosovo and Serbia.

The power deviations have led to a slight decrease in the electric frequency average.

This average frequency deviation, that has never happened in any similar way in the CE Power system, must cease. The missing energy amounts currently to 113 GWh. The question of who will compensate for this loss has to be answered.

The decrease in frequency average is affecting also those electric clocks that are steered by the frequency of the power system and not by a quartz crystal: they show currently a delay of close to six minutes.

ENTSO-E, the association of the European TSOs, is exploring all technical options to address the deviation issue with the concerned TSOs.

As there is also a political dimension with impact on the functioning of the electricity system, ENTSO-E is urging European and national governments and policy makers to take swift action. These actions need to address the political side of this issue, supporting ENTSO-E's and the TSOs' actions to deliver a technical solution.

Frequently asked questions

What is a synchronous area?

A synchronous electricity grid is a wide area grid covering different countries or region which operates at a synchronized frequency and is electrically tied together during normal system conditions. In Continental Europe, the synchronized frequency is of 50 Hz.

Which countries are part of the Continental Europe synchronous area?

The area is made of 25 countries and covers most of Europe's continent. Here is a link to the map of the interconnected European Power system: ​Download the map​.

By how much has the frequency decreased?

You can find updated information on the decrease in the average frequency and the time deviation it causes on the website of the Swiss TSO, Swissgrid, that is in charge of monitoring the frequency for the Continental Europe. https://www.swissgrid.ch/swissgrid/en/home/experts/topics/frequency.html

When does security of supply get affected?

For the system to properly function the frequency cannot go below 47.6 and above 52.4 Hz. At the extreme values of 47.5 (under frequency) and 52.5 (over frequency) all connected generation and devices would automatically disconnect. The average frequency of the period since mid-January 2018 until today was around 49.996 Hz.

Where can I see the current frequency?

The transmission system operators in charge of monitoring the frequency in the Continental Europe area are the Swiss TSO, Swissgrid and the German TSO, Amprion. They act as Coordination Centers for the synchronous, continental European Grid. You can see the actual measurement of frequency at the website: ​ https://www.swissgrid.ch/swissgrid/en/home/experts/topics/frequency.html

How are devices like clocks impacted by the frequency average decrease and when would the impact stop?

Some clocks are based on the frequency of the power system, and thus run late when the frequency decreases, or run too fast, when the system is in over-frequency. Such clocks are typically radio-, oven clocks or clocks for programming the heating system. These types of electric clocks show now a delay around six minutes. The clocks can be taken back to normal manually, with a second reset needed once the Continental European power system recovers its normal frequency. Alternatively, the clocks will get all back to normal when the deviation has ceased and the frequency is restored to normal.

How and when can the situation be put back to normal?

The first step is to cease the deviation. The second step is to compensate for the missing amount of energy. It is foreseen to solve step 1 this week, while the timeline for step 2 has yet to be decided. Taking the system back to normal could take a few weeks.

Why do you mention in your press release a political issue and solution?

The political disagreements opposing the Serbian and Kosovar authorities have led to the observed electricity impact. If no solution can be found at political level, a deviation risk could remain.