SIBU: A snake knocked out power supply here at about 2.21am, affecting the Oya, Salim, and Deshon areas on April 7.
In a statement on Monday Sarawak Energy said the seven-foot long reptile slithered into the switchgear at its Oya 275kV Substation, causing the blackout.
“Syarikat Sesco Berhad’s (Sesco) technical team removed the carcass, conducted a thorough inspection to ensure safety, and restored supply to affected customers by 4.43am,” it said.
Sarawak Energy’s Senior Manager for Transmission Substations, Sia Chiu Tiing, thanked the public for their patience and understanding.
“Upon receiving the report, we immediately dispatched our technical team to the site to investigate and initiate supply restoration works. Given the high voltage nature of our facilities, comprehensive precautions are necessary to ensure safety and prevent equipment damage,” he said.
He stressed that Sarawak Energy is actively exploring solutions to mitigate such incidents, including installing anti-animal climbing guards and conducting regular patrols of the overhead lines in areas with high wildlife presence.
“Sarawak Energy’s operations arm, Sesco, remains committed to maintaining the condition of its electricity infrastructure and equipment, conducting timely scheduled maintenance works to ensure a continuous and reliable power supply for the upcoming Hari Raya festive season.
“However, ensuring a reliable supply across the state poses challenges, as Sarawak’s transmission and distribution power lines run a great distance alongside or through forests, farms, and plantations.”
For any queries or wildlife sightings on Sarawak Energy’s facilities, customers can contact Sarawak Energy’s 24/7 Customer Care Centre on 1300-88-3111, email customercare@sarawakenergy.com, or chat with the virtual agent CARINA.
Alternatively, customers can also reach the utility provider through Sarawak Energy’s mobile application, SEB Cares, which can be downloaded via the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
