MIRI: Roadwork contractors caused inconvenience to thousands of customers of Sarawak Energy by neglecting to check with the power utility before digging.
Over 220 reports of power outages caused by excavation works were reported in 2022.
In Miri, more than 2,000 residents in the Lambir, Bekenu, Bakong and Niah areas experienced hours of power disruption due to damage to Sarawak Energy’s electrical facilities on Dec 29 last year.
Rectification and supply restoration by Sarawak Energy’s technical team required four hours, while repair works on the damaged cables continued into the next day.
Checks revealed that the utility’s 33kV underground cables were damaged by excavation works conducted in Bukit Song by a contractor involved in the Pan Borneo highway project.
This was the third such incident to occur in Sarawak in December alone.
Meanwhile, in Kuching, some 1,000 customers of Jalan Matang and Malihah were affected by a two-hour outage after a third-party contractor damaged Sarawak Energy’s 11kV underground cables whilst excavating on Dec 7.
In Lundu, excavation works in Kampung Paon by a Pan Borneo highway contractor damaged Sarawak Energy’s 33kV underground cables on Dec 17.
This caused more than 1,200 customers in Sematan, Biawak, Kampung Telok Melano and Kampung Telok Serabang to be without electricity supply, with some areas experiencing up to 12 hours of outage.
These cases of damaged electrical facilities caused by third-party excavations have cost Sarawak Energy losses of more than RM570,000.
Sarawak Energy once again reminds all contractors to check with the utility company before starting excavation works.
These occurrences could have been avoided if the contractors had taken heed of Sarawak Energy’s reminders and worked closely with the utility’s technical team.
Sarawak Energy will not hesitate to take legal action against those found damaging its facilities to make them accountable for repair costs and revenue losses.
In the meantime, contractors are also urged to comply with the Electricity Ordinance, the Electricity Rules 1999, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 when carrying out works near high-tension cables or other electrical infrastructure to ensure the safety of all persons involved.
To notify Sarawak Energy of works near electrical infrastructure requiring its technical advice, contractors can contact their customer care centre at 1300 88-3111 or email customercare@sarawakenergy.com.
Damaged underground cable caused by excavation works at Bukit Song in Miri.
