When the Power Goes Out in Asunción

Cortes de luz (power cuts) happen. Here is how to see ANDE's planned ones coming, report the surprise ones and keep your phone and fridge going through storm season.

Dark storm clouds and rain over the Asunción skyline, with trees in the foreground — A summer storm rolls over Asunción. When the sky turns this color, plug in your phone and your power bank. Photo: Cmasi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Who runs the power: ANDE

Electricity in Asunción comes from ANDE, the Administración Nacional de Electricidad, the state company that generates, transmits and distributes power and runs public lighting. For outages, you deal with ANDE by phone, WhatsApp, app or website.

The main entrance of the ANDE head office in Asunción, with stairs, flags and palm trees — ANDE's head office in Asunción. You won't need to visit: every outage channel works from your phone. Photo: Diego Fernando Quint… / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Planned cuts: where ANDE posts them

ANDE switches off parts of the network on purpose for maintenance and upgrades. It posts these trabajos programados on its planned interruptions page (linked from the homepage as "Interrupciones programadas") and on its Instagram, @andeoficialpy. Searching for "corte de luz Asunción hoy"? Start there.

Each notice covers one day of work and lists the zone, the streets, the barrio and city, the time window and the job. Look for your street and barrio, not just your city: a cut can cover a few blocks.

ANDE gives notice in two rounds: 20–30 days ahead when it picks the stretch of network, and a confirmation 48 hours before the cut, with flyers delivered house to house both times. If you rent, ask your building administration to pass the flyers on.

Is it just my building? How to report an outage

Check these first:

Your breaker panel. If only part of the apartment is dark, a tripped breaker is the likely cause.
Your neighbors or building staff. If your building is out but the street lights and the building across the road are on, tell the administration first.
The planned cuts page. If your street is on today's list, the power returns when the work window ends.

Wider than your home and not planned? Report it to ANDE:

Phone: 021 160, listed on ANDE's homepage.
WhatsApp: 0962 160 160, the virtual assistant Luz, 24 hours a day.
App: Mi ANDE, which texts you a claim number. Handy after a storm, when the phone line is busy.
Web form: Reclamo por falta de Energía. It asks for your name, a phone number, the type of fault, your department and, if you have it, your NIS supply number (it's on your bill).

Why the power goes out

Branches touching the lines are the main cause of outages, according to ANDE, which is why wind and storms knock the power out. ANDE is replacing open cables with protected ones in tree-lined areas to cut those interruptions.

Big grid failures are rarer. On February 18, 2026, a 500 kV connector came loose at the Yguazú substation in Alto Paraná, and the chain reaction left about 5 million people without power, Asunción included. The blackout hit the drinking water supply too.

Electrical towers and lines at the ANDE substation in Sajonia, behind a flowering tree — ANDE's Sajonia substation in Asunción. The planned-cuts list names streets, so search for yours, not just your barrio. Photo: Cmasi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

What to do during an outage

Save your phone battery. Dim the screen and close apps you don't need.
Keep the fridge and freezer shut. The Ministry of Health says food keeps safely about four hours in a closed fridge during a blackout.
Unplug appliances. In a storm, ANDE says to unplug TVs, fridges and other appliances and avoid using them, so the surge when power returns doesn't fry them.
Keep drinking water. A long cut can stop the water pumps too.
Stay away from fallen wires. ANDE says to treat every loose cable as live, keep your distance and report it.
Take care at dark traffic lights. Treat every junction as a four-way stop.

If someone at home relies on powered medical equipment, keep our hospitals guide handy.

A simple home kit

Keep it in one known place:

a charged power bank and your phone cable
a flashlight or headlamp, with spare batteries
drinking water for everyone at home

Check it at the start of summer and recharge the power bank after each use. (A rechargeable fan earns its shelf space in January.)

Storm season

Summer storms bring the wind and falling branches behind the cuts. Our summer heat guide covers storms and flooded streets, so read it before the season starts.

FAQ

Where can I see planned power cuts in Asunción?

On ANDE's planned interruptions page, linked from its homepage, and on its Instagram, @andeoficialpy. ANDE announces planned work 20–30 days ahead and confirms it 48 hours before.

How do I report a power outage to ANDE?

Call 021 160, send a WhatsApp to 0962 160 160, use the Mi ANDE app, or fill in the "Reclamo por falta de Energía" form on ande.gov.py.

What should I do with my fridge during a power cut?

Keep it closed. The Ministry of Health says food keeps safely for about four hours in a closed fridge during a blackout.

Power out and wondering if it's just your block? Join Open Asu on WhatsApp and ask the neighborhood.