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A major power surge that triggered a extensive power outage across Spain and Portuguese regions has been identified as the "most serious" electrical incident in Europe during the last 20 years, and represents a unprecedented occurrence of its kind, according to a newly released report.

Damian Cortinas of the group of electricity grid operators announced that this notable event marked the pioneering recorded power failure to be specifically initiated by excessive voltage, which happens when too much electrical voltage gathers within a system.

"This is new territory," Cortinas stated, explaining that the association's function was "not to apportion blame to any organization" regarding the root origin.

The spring's blackout caused significant interruption for almost one full day when it plunged multiple areas into powerless state, cutting network services and halting transportation systems.

Broad Impact

The electrical failure impacted large parts of the Spanish territory and Portugal, and briefly affected southern French territories.

The report, issued on Friday, centered on the status of the power systems on the day of the outage and the chain of developments preceding it.

Systemic Failures

A cascade of "sequential electrical spikes" - described as an increase in the power system voltage above the standard level - was determined to be the key factor behind the blackout, the report concluded.

Overvoltage can be caused by spikes in grids due to surplus generation or weather events, or when safety systems are inadequate.

Per the investigation, computerized safety protocols were triggered but were unable to stop the electrical network from collapsing.

Multiple Examinations

The study succeeds several separate inquiries and reports by the Spain's administration, as well as power and grid companies. The oversight organization and Spanish lawmakers are also performing distinct examinations.

The Spanish government considers that the association's report supports its earlier determinations.

The minister for energy transition stated that it was "fully aligned" with the outcomes of an inquiry it ordered which concluded in June that both the primary network operator and private electricity companies were responsible.

Conflicting Accounts

Each of the primary grid operator and the private firms have asserted that they were not responsible. The parent company has attributed the blackout on certain coal, gas and nuclear power plants' failure to help sustain appropriate voltage.

Local power providers said it was triggered by poor planning from system controllers.

Examination Challenges

The investigation also highlighted that some important data was absent and that "acquiring comprehensive, accurate information proved particularly problematic for this inquiry".

A definitive analysis, to be released in the beginning period of the coming year, will investigate the underlying reasons of the overvoltage and the measures implemented to control electrical levels in the grid.

Political Controversy

The outage initiated a wider discussion that entered the administrative domain about the country's power strategy.

The political rivals suggested that an growing dependence on sustainable power, advocated by the left-wing government of the national leader, could have been a significant component in causing the outage and the territory's diminishing production of nuclear energy meant a consistent reserve was not available.

The administration roundly rejected these hypotheses and the new report was prudent to remain neutral when it concerned the causes of April's unprecedented blackout.

Direct Effects

The loss of power forced professional tennis tournament organizers to suspend a game midway during play.

The country's nuclear stations immediately shut down when the failure hit, and the national petroleum corporation announced it halted operations at its oil refineries.

Social Disorder

Structures were cast into blackout, while cellular devices and intersection indicators ceased functioning. Lines extended along street corners and electronic transactions failed, forcing people to line up for money and crowd into mass transit as other transport systems were not running.

Emergency workers were dispatched to numerous structures to rescue people trapped inside elevators in the capital area and hospitals activated emergency plans, suspending standard operations.