Power Supply Disruption Hits Hougang on Monday Morning
Several areas in Hougang experienced a short power outage on the morning of Monday, June 2, leaving residents and business owners briefly without electricity. The incident began around 11:14 AM and power was fully restored by 11:28 AM, according to statements from the Energy Market Authority (EMA) and SP Group.
The outage, which lasted approximately 14 minutes, disrupted daily routines and operations across various parts of the Hougang neighborhood. While no injuries were reported, the incident raised concerns about infrastructure reliability and emergency response preparedness.
Energy Market Authority Responds Swiftly
The Energy Market Authority (EMA), which regulates and oversees Singapore’s energy sector, confirmed that it is actively investigating the root cause of the disruption. In response to media queries, EMA stated that it takes such power outages very seriously and is working to determine what led to the temporary loss of electricity supply.
“We are aware that the electricity supply to parts of Hougang was disrupted at around 11:14 AM. Power was fully restored by 11:28 AM,” an EMA spokesperson shared. “EMA takes such outages seriously and will be investigating the cause of the incident.”
SP Group Deploys Response Teams Immediately
National grid operator SP Group also addressed the issue in a public update, stating that its officers were immediately sent to the affected areas upon learning of the outage. Their top priority was to restore power safely and swiftly.
“Our officers were immediately deployed to the affected areas. Our priority is to restore supply safely and as quickly as possible,” SP Group announced.
The group also issued a reminder to tenants of commercial and industrial buildings that they may need to reset their internal electrical systems following such outages. This step often requires assistance from a licensed electrical worker to ensure safety and proper functionality.
SP Group apologized for the inconvenience and emphasized that investigations are currently underway to determine the exact cause of the incident.
Eyewitness Accounts Shared on Social Media
News of the outage quickly spread on social media, where residents shared their experiences and observations. Local blogger and social commentator Lee Kin Mun, more widely known by his online alias “mrbrown”, posted about the situation at his block. According to his Facebook update, some individuals were trapped inside elevators during the outage.
“Some were stuck in the lift and were banging the door and pressing the emergency bell. A few of us tried to reassure people stuck inside that help was coming,” he wrote. “Then before the lift rescue team came, power was restored. I am thankful the power was restored so quickly.”
Another Facebook user, August Gan, mentioned she was at the Hougang RiverCourt shopping mall when the lights went out. “Come here to eat for the aircon but blackout… So hot now,” she commented, highlighting how the outage briefly affected businesses and shoppers.
Power Outage May Have Extended Beyond Hougang
Although the official reports focused on Hougang, some social media users claimed that the power disruption might have also reached parts of nearby Sengkang, particularly in the Rivervale Gardens area. However, these reports remain unverified by the authorities as of the time of writing.
Investigation Ongoing, Authorities Emphasize Reliability
While the power outage was brief and resolved relatively quickly, both EMA and SP Group have underscored their commitment to energy reliability in Singapore. The prompt response and rapid restoration efforts helped minimize inconvenience, but the incident serves as a reminder of the need for continual vigilance in managing the national power grid.
More updates are expected as the investigation into the cause of the outage progresses. Residents and businesses in Hougang and neighboring areas are encouraged to remain alert and to report any electrical irregularities to SP Group or their appointed electrical contractors.
