KOTA KINABALU: Contractors who damage underground power cables while carrying out their projects are hampering the state utility company’s objective to provide uninterrupted supply to consumers.
Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) senior general manager (asset management) Idris Mohd Noor said excavation works by contractors had been affecting this goal and the company was taking legal action against the errant parties.
“Work carried out by third parties along our cable lines is becoming one of our biggest challenges,” he said on Sunday (Sept 12).
This week alone, he said, there were two major incidents where power cables were damaged by excavation works, causing 5,000 consumers to be affected by power cuts.
He said that on Saturday (Sept 11), the power supply to some 3,000 consumers here was disrupted for two hours after a contractor carrying out road widening works damaged an underground cable along Jalan Tuaran.
On Wednesday (Sept 8), 2,000 consumers were left without power also for two hours after another contractor damaged an underground cable at Kampung Sodomon in Kepayan, he added.
Idris said such careless errors not only caused losses to SESB but also an unnecessary inconvenience to the public.
“It is also damaging to the company’s image as we are constantly working towards improving services for consumers,” he added.
He said SESB had issued warnings previously and also taken legal action against those who failed to consult the utility company when carrying out excavation in areas where there are underground power cables.
“We request contractors to inform us in advance of any excavation activities on roads where underground cables are in place.
“This should ensure that the excavation work is done safely and at the same time, avoid any disruption,” he said, adding that SESB had filed for legal action in 78 instances of power cables damaged by contractors.
“We hope the legal action will be expedited,” he said.
