Lights Out in Singapore: A Sudden Power Struggle
Earlier this Tuesday morning, the city-state from Bedok to Jurong went into a full blackout, tripping almost 150,000 homes and businesses into darkness.
What the Affected Residents Experienced
- Homes went completely dark—no glow from kitchen counters or bedtime lamps.
- Cars had to navigate streets without streetlights, turning night driving into a real-life horror movie.
Energy Authority’s Take
The Energy Market Authority (EMA) is on the case, digging into the cause of the outage. Meanwhile, SP Group, the power supplier, reported that the issue hit 19 locales at 1:18 am and was patched up in 38 minutes.
Preliminary Findings from SP
SP points fingers at a partial power shortfall from two generation companies. They say the grid is all good, checks passed, but investigations are still underway.
Customers in the Crosshairs
146,797 people—residents and businesses alike—found themselves without electricity in these areas:
- Boon Lay, Choa Chu Kang, Clementi, Jurong, Pandan Loop
- Aljunied, Geylang, Tanjong Rhu, Mountbatten, Kembangan
- Bedok, East Coast, Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Thomson
- Mandai, Admiralty, Sembawang, Woodlands
The #BlackoutChronicles on Social Media
Even at the ungodly hour, folks took to Twitter to share the drama. One tweet captured a snapshot of the moment: https://twitter.com/jin19lee/status/1041748546708365312
Caregiver Tan Boon Tong’s Light‑out Tale
Healthcare worker Tan Boon Tong, 37, was kneeling in his Housing Board flat on Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4 when the lights and his trusty fan vanished. He told The Straits Times, “It felt like we’d walked into a blackout museum.”
In short, the blackout was a stark reminder that even the brightest city can lose its shine—one outage, a handful of smiley emojis, and a collective push to reboot the lights.
Power‑Cut Panic in Yishun
The whole neighbourhood went dark all of a sudden, and the only thing that stayed lit was the empty street. One resident, a mother in the front room, was streaming her favourite sitcom when the electricity cut out. She ran outside and found Yishun in the blackest shade of night.
“You’re Not Seeing This!” – A Quick‑Reaction Story
- Ms. Jaxy Yeo (27) – Saleswoman in Jurong
She thought the power box had tripped.
Result: her whole house, and the whole estate, turned into a black‑out stage. - Ms. Adeline Ng (60s) – Resident of Central Grove in Geylang
She was literally stuck in the lift.
The only thing soaring was the anxiety‑fueled silence.
So, why does the city spin into blackout that fast? Forget local myths; this one involves utility lines, maintenance mishaps, and the mysterious nature of grid hiccups. But that’s a whole other article. For now, keep your flashlight handy and tell your neighbours that black lights are no longer the only bright idea in town!
Unexpected Nighttime Adventure in Bedok North
Picture this: it’s the silent early morning of September 18, 2018, and the city’s lights decide to take a little break. One of the quiet streets in Singapore, Bedok North Avenue 2, gets hit by a sudden power outage — an electricity hiccup that throws a few residents into uncharted darkness.
The Elevator Saga
- Setting the Scene: A resident was cruising down the elevator, headed for a local coffee shop to fuel the day.
- When the Lights Went Out: Suddenly, the power flickered off, leaving the lift company in a hold.
- Quick Thinking: Thinking it was just a quirky lift glitch, the person hit the emergency button.
- Safety Inside: Thankfully, the emergency door popped open, and the person managed a smooth exit.
- Ascension to Darkness: With no light to guide them, they had to finish the descent by foot, navigating the stairs in complete darkness.
Why This Matter
While it may sound like a simple inconvenience, a blackout can stir up a mix of anxiety and frustration, especially when combined with staircases and elevators that suddenly stop functioning. However, the event thankfully kept everyone safe, lending a bit of an adrenaline rush to an otherwise calm morning.
Conclusion
And that’s the short story of how a routine coffee run turned into an impromptu night‑time stair-walking adventure — all thanks to a little power outage in Bedok North. A reminder that sometimes the most unexpected events can add a pinch of excitement to your day!
Midnight Madness: Singapore’s 2018 Power Outbreak
Sembawang and a few other corners of the Lion City went dark in the early hours of September 18, 2018. The blackout wasn’t just for the residents – street signs, traffic lights and even the café lights at the corner of the Pan‑Island Expressway (PIE) flickered out.
Picture a Driver in the Dark
A 25‑year‑old photographer, Aaron Rodrigues, was cruising from Nanyang Technological University to his Yishun home at 1:40 am when the lights billowed out.
- He lined up the road during no car lights, but traffic cones were waiting at each PIE entrance – a lifesaver for the GPS‑needy.
- With the high beams on, the drive felt “like a Malaysian highway at night,” he laughed—“you just have to keep it slow.”
- Every traffic light across all directions came to a brick‑stopping halt. “Never seen such courtesy before!” he said.
Official Reactions
- Tan Chuan‑Jin (Speaker of Parliament & MP, Marine Parade GRC) called the outage “quite serious and extensive” and warned that hotline lines were soaking up calls.
- SP Group posted that its officers were on the ground and investigating.
- Singapore Police Force & Civil Defence Force confirmed emergency services were running smoothly and urged people to dial
999or995only in true emergencies. - The EMA pledged a thorough review, cooperation with the industry, and thanked folks for their patience.
A Glimpse into Past Outages
The last major power hiccup happened on 1 June, plunging the Central Business District for half an hour. Banks, lights, food stalls, and even a mall went dark. SP Group blamed maintenance work at a substation.
Fast‑forward to 2011: a contractor’s mishap clobbered a high‑voltage cable, snapping power for Bishan & Ang Mo Kio for 15 minutes. Trains stalled between Orchard & Marsiling, denting the commutes of over 7,000 passengers.
All in all, the 2018 blackout reminded us that even in a high‑tech city like Singapore, a pinhole can shut down a city’s heartbeat. Thankfully, after a few hours of black, the lights came back on and drivers, and commuters, could breathe a sigh of relief – at least until tomorrow’s newunday is the next alert.
