MAJOR POWER FAILURES (Particulars)

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon asked the Minister for Trade and Industry how many major power failures occurred during the 12 months ending on 30th September, 1987; what was the cost of damage resulting from such power failures; and whether his Ministry has any plan to improve the existing system to prevent further power failures.

The Minister for Trade and Industry (BG Lee Hsien Loong): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in the 12 months ending 30th September 1987, there were 138 power failures affecting sizeable areas in Singapore. 92 were caused by damage to underground cables by contractors, 23 were due to cable insulation failure, 12 because of equipment failure in the transmission and distribution system, nine due to equipment failure in consumers' installations, and two due to equipment failure in power stations.

Cable damaged by contractors is the most frequent cause of power failure, accounting for more than 60% of the total number of power failures which affected sizeable parts of Singapore over the last four years. My Ministry takes a very serious view of these disruptions. Their cost to the nation is tremendous; far greater than the cost of repairing the damaged cable. In a power blackout, factories have to stop, offices cannot function, and shops and establishments lose business. Banks, foreign exchange markets and the stock exchange, where every minute huge amounts are bought and sold, are all paralysed. Industries like petrochemicals and electronics, which depend critically on a continuous and reliable source of power, incur millions of dollars in lost production and start-up costs.

Cable damage is not the inevitable result of construction activity. It is purely the result of ignorance and negligence, and is wholly unnecessary and preventable, if only contractors follow the proper procedures, verify the locations of underground cables, and take all necessary precautions before doing excavation works.

The Public Utilities Board has formed a cable damage prevention unit to patrol and inspect excavation sites, and to assist contractors working near cables. It will step up its education programme to teach contractors proper excavation procedures and use of cable detectors, through talks and demonstrations. It is also considering debarring recalcitrant contractors, and requiring all contractors to pay a deposit with PUB and obtain a permit before undertaking any excavation and earthworks.

Currently, the maximum fine for damaging PUB cables is only $5,000. This is grossly inadequate and totally out of proportion to the gravity of the offence. PUB is seeking to amend the law to increase the maximum fine substantially. A figure of $200,000 would be more realistic, although even this would still be much less than the potential damage done.

Meanwhile, the PUB will continue to improve the reliability of its power equipment and network. In the next decade, PUB will spend some $5.2 billion to develop, expand and upgrade Singapore's electricity supply. New power stations and transmission cables will replace older and less reliable equipment. A computerized power system control centre will remotely monitor and control the power stations and transmission and distribution network, and speed up restoration of supplies in the event of power failure. I am confident that these measures will minimize power failures in Singapore.