West Sumatra’s power grid is steadily recovering following a significant electrical system disruption that plunged the region into darkness since Friday evening, May 22, 2026. PLN (Persero) Main Distribution Unit (UID) West Sumatra has confirmed that all main substations across the province have been successfully re-energized, marking a crucial step towards full restoration.
Speaking from Padang City on Saturday, May 23, 2026, Ajrun Karim, General Manager of PLN UID West Sumatra, announced, “As of 05:00 AM Western Indonesian Time (WIB), 60 percent of the system has been restored, and we are working tirelessly to achieve 100 percent full operational capacity.” This positive development was reported by Antara.
While the re-energization of all main substations signifies significant progress, challenges remain. A total of 175 feeders are still offline out of 394, indicating that numerous areas are yet to see their electricity supply return to normal.
These affected feeders are widespread across many cities and regencies, impacting residents in Padang City, Padang Pariaman Regency, Tanah Datar Regency, Pasaman Regency, West Pasaman Regency, Limapuluh Kota Regency, Payakumbuh City, Padang Panjang City, Solok, South Solok, Sijunjung Regency, and Dharmasraya Regency.
Local PLN officials have affirmed their commitment to rapidly restore the entire electrical system to full normalcy. They also emphasized that West Sumatra’s low and medium voltage networks are currently in a secure state. However, field personnel continue to work diligently, battling against the clock to normalize the remaining affected feeders.
“All main substations are now operational,” Karim clarified, “the remaining task involves the loading process at each individual feeder point.”
The precise cause of the extensive power outage in West Sumatra, which began around 6:44 PM WIB on Friday evening, has not yet been detailed by the agency. Nevertheless, preliminary investigations suggest that the electrical system disruption may have originated from Jambi Province.
This disruption was not isolated to West Sumatra; similar electrical system failures were also reported in Aceh, North Sumatra, and Riau, indicating a wider regional impact across Sumatra.
Immediately following the incident, PLN dispatched technical teams to thoroughly inspect all electrical systems and networks, simultaneously working to pinpoint the root cause of the widespread malfunction.
In light of the situation, PLN urges the public to remain calm and avoid panic. Regular updates on the progress of restoration efforts will be provided via the PLN Mobile application and the PLN 123 contact center service.
Meanwhile, residents are slowly experiencing the return of power. Asna, a resident of Bukittinggi City, reported that electricity in her area was restored between 01:00 AM and 03:00 AM WIB. “I checked at 01:00 AM, and the power was still out, but by 03:00 AM, it was back on,” she stated, expressing hope for a complete and stable return to normalcy.
Editor’s Choice: Why Green Electricity Struggles to Reach Remote Areas
Summary
PLN has successfully re-energized all main substations in West Sumatra following a major regional power outage that began on May 22, 2026. While the electrical system is steadily recovering, 175 out of 394 feeders remain offline, impacting various cities and regencies across the province. PLN personnel are currently working to normalize the remaining feeders to ensure full operational capacity.
The disruption, which also affected Aceh, North Sumatra, and Riau, is believed to have originated in Jambi Province, though the exact cause remains under investigation. PLN is actively monitoring the low and medium voltage networks and encourages the public to check for status updates via the PLN Mobile application. Technical teams remain deployed on-site to resolve the remaining localized power issues.