The carcass of the 2m-long snake that caused power outages in the Oya, Salim and Deshon areas in Sibu on Apeil 7. - Photo courtesy of Sarawak Energy Bhd
WHILE many of us are aware of electricity interruptions or blackouts caused by short circuits or overloading, there can be other causes including animal intrusion, especially when power transmission lines run through areas such as forests, farms, and plantations.
Recently, it was claimed that a snake was the reason behind blackouts in several areas in Sibu. Is this true?
VERDICT:
TRUE
In a statement on its website, Sarawak Energy Bhd confirmed that a seven-foot-long danger noodle had intruded onto the switchgear at the Oya 275kV Substation in the Mukah Division.
It said that this led to an unexpected power interruption that affected the Oya, Salim and Deshon areas in Sibu on April 7.
Sarawak Energy said a technical team from its operations arm, Syarikat Sesco Bhd, had removed the snake's carcass and conducted a thorough inspection to ensure safety before restoring supply to affected customers at 4.43am without further incidents.
Sarawak Energy transmission substations senior manager Sia Chiu Tiing thanked the public for their patience and understanding during the incident.
“Given the high voltage nature of our facilities, comprehensive precautions are necessary to ensure safety and prevent equipment damage,” said Sia in a statement.
According to the statement, 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.
For any queries or wildlife sightings on Sarawak Energy’s facilities, customers can call its 24/7 Customer Care Centre at 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.
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