This Tuesday, September 1, 2026 marks the return of the two-session workday in the Tunisian administration. On the same day, the Tunisian Company for Electricity and Gas (STEG) announced that periodic electricity outages could occur between 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM in several regions of the country.
Both events are distinct and no causal link has been established between them. Their schedules, however, overlap for part of the afternoon, during which administrative activity resumes after two months of a single-session day. For some businesses and organizations, this situation may require additional precautions to ensure the continuity of their operations.
Key Points
- The two-session workday resumes on September 1 in the administration after the summer period.
- STEG indicates that intermittent interruptions could occur between 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM, depending on the state of the network.
- This is not a five-hour continuous outage, nor a systematic interruption in all announced areas.
- For businesses, the main challenge is business continuity: IT, sensitive equipment, cooling, production or payment systems.
- STEG presents this measure as exceptional and intended to preserve the security of the network and the balance between production and consumption.
A Time Overlap This Tuesday
According to the announced hours for the resumption of the two-session day, state agents, local authorities and public administrative establishments work, from Monday to Thursday, from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM and then 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM. On Fridays, hours are set from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM and then 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM.
This return to the usual rhythm comes after the summer one-session day that has been in place since July 1.
Meanwhile, STEG indicated that electricity interruptions could be decided in intermittent periods between 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM, depending on the state of the network. This window therefore covers a large portion of the afternoon activity rebound.
This time alignment does not mean that the two measures are linked. It only changes the context in which businesses, administrations and professionals must organize their day.
What is Known, and What Is Not
To be clear: the window 1:00 PM–6:00 PM does not mean that all cited zones will be without electricity for five hours. The press release does not provide in advance the exact time or duration of any potential outage in each locality.
Why Some Businesses Need to Plan Ahead
For a business, the main concern is not necessarily the duration of a blackout, but its ability to maintain or quickly resume its activity.
In industry, even a brief interruption can lead to a temporary shutdown of a line or a machine. In services, it is computers, servers, network equipment or payment systems that may be affected. Agro-food activities must, in turn, pay particular attention to equipment related to the cold chain.
The restoration of power without notice is also an element to be integrated into internal procedures, especially for devices sensitive to abrupt stops and restarts.
What Precautions by Activity?
| Activity | Potential Impact | Useful Precaution |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Temporary stop of a line or equipment | When possible, organize the most critical operations outside the announced window |
| Information Technology and Services | Interruption of computers, servers or connections | Use uninterruptible power supplies, back up data and plan a restart procedure |
| Retail | Disruption of cash registers, payment terminals and equipment | Check backup solutions and secure ongoing operations |
| Agro-food | Possible disruption of certain refrigeration equipment | Monitor cold-chain systems and temperatures |
| Hospitality and Catering | Occasional interruption of certain services or equipment | Test backup systems and identify priority functions |
| Businesses with Generator | Temporary switch to autonomous power supply | Check operation, maintenance and fuel reserves |
Business Continuity at the Heart of the Matter
For businesses, this situation underscores the value of having simple business continuity procedures: regular backups, uninterruptible power supplies for IT equipment, electrical protection devices, checking generators where they exist, and pre-identifying operations that cannot be interrupted.
In organizations that enable it, certain tasks highly dependent on electricity can also be scheduled outside the window announced by STEG, without disrupting the overall organization of work.
Three Simple Practices for Tuesday
1. Save data and ongoing work.
2. Check UPS, generators, and backup equipment.
3. Identify the most electricity-dependent operations during the 1:00 PM–6:00 PM window.
A Measure Presented as Exceptional by STEG
STEG explains that the potential periodic outages aim to preserve the safety and longevity of the electrical system and to maintain the balance between production and consumption.
The company apologized to its customers for this exceptional measure and said it counted on their understanding and cooperation.
To report an emergency or obtain more information, STEG provides the number 71 239 222. Customers can also use the phone numbers listed on their invoices.
For businesses, the challenge is therefore primarily organizational: anticipating a possible intermittent disruption, protecting sensitive equipment, and preparing for the continuity of essential activities.
