Shorter power cuts in Sabah, Labuan with installation of distribution automation system

LABUAN, March 16 (Bernama) -- The frequency of power failures and time taken to restore power supply in Sabah and Labuan have been reduced with the installation of the RM12.5 million Distribution Automation system project, which is expected to be fully operational next month.

Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) acting managing director Ir. Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid said they had managed to raise power supply reliability and operational efficiency as well as minimise power cuts through the project, which began in 2016.

He said the project was implemented in two phases, with the first phase, involving the installation of 32 units, up and running while the 247 units installed in stages under phase two were expected to be ready next month.

He said the installation of the units in critical areas (power supply disruptions) involved the city of Kota Kinabalu, Kota Marudu, Sandakan, Tawau and Labuan.

“In Labuan, 11 units have been installed at several strategic locations,” he told reporters after visiting the SESB sub-station at the JBA Building in Jalan Jumidar Buyong, here today.

Abdul Nasser said the project was among several SESB initiatives to strengthen its existing electricity supply system and that the existence of this system will enable the restoring of power supply to be handled directly from the Distribution Control Centre (DCC) in Kota Kinabalu.

“Every time there is a power failure, the DCC will restore supply immediately to the affected areas while investigative/repair works are being carried out by SESB employees,” he said.

He said that with this system, the SESB stand-by teams would no longer take a long time to find the cause of the power failure.

The time needed to restore supply will be shorter for the comfort of our customers, he said.

-- BERNAMA