The Department of Electrical Services (DES) has clarified the power outages affecting the Gadong area on June 27, taking full responsibility for the inconveniences caused and assuring that mitigation works have been carried out to prevent similar incidents in the future.

In a press statement yesterday, the department said, "First and foremost, the DES would like to extend its apologies to the businesses situated in the four blocks of Haji Daud Complex in the Gadong area affected by the power supply interruption for more than three hours on June 27," reads the press statement.

"DES would like to assure the public that every effort has been taken to resume the power supply promptly and safely to the affected premises."

Businesses owners in the Gadong commercial area shared with the Bulletin on Monday that they had experienced lengthy electricity disruptions, and said that they hope to apply for the recently introduced compensation scheme to reimburse businesses affected by unexpected power outages exceeding three hours.

In the press statement, the DES shared that the first complaint was received at 11.36am, during which partial loss of power supply had affected several business premises in the said area.

The DES immediately mobilised its staff to carry out an assessment on the system, and concluded that only one phase supply from the distribution transformer had failed.

However, to enable further checks on the transformer and the necessary rectification works to be carried out safely, DES had to switch off the power supply altogether at 2.51pm. This inevitably led to a total supply
interruption to the four blocks, said the DES.

The switching off of the said transformer was therefore done on a planned basis.

"However, it is very much regretted that an extended period was needed to connect to the temporary supply via DES mobile generator set as well as the difficulty to locate cables to safely supply the affected blocks."

Partial supply resumed to most of the blocks at 5.25pm and eventually at 9.21pm to the last block. The faulty component that led to the interruption has been fixed, and supply was returned to a normal source at midnight, the department said.

"DES takes full responsibility of the inconveniences caused and assures that mitigation works have been carried out to prevent similar incidents in the future," reads the DES statement.

They added that, with regards to compensation, affected businesses who are eligible for the compensation scheme may wish to download and fill in the Compensation Form For Commercial Premises from the DES official website at http://www. des.gov.bn/Downloads/.

For more information on the scheme or any general inquiries, businesses and members of the public may call Darussalam Line 123 or email [email protected], or email at [email protected]

Alternatively they may visit any DES counter during working hours or download the Guidelines for the Submission of Compensation Form from the DES website at http:/ www.des.gov.bn/Downloads/

The DES press release noted that if there were still any difficulties encountered, the public could make a call directly to the Director of Electrical Services at 7170697.

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by BruDirect.com

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