The high demand for electricity amid heatwave
Published on: Sunday, March 24, 2024
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Sabah is experiencing persistent heat, with temperatures hovering around 38 degrees Celsius, and a notable lack of rainfall intensifying the dry conditions. This strain has led to increased demand for electricity, placing pressure on our resources.
Furthermore, water scarcity is becoming a growing concern. The State Water Department is considering rationing measures and promoting water conservation to address potential drought conditions, especially with Papar recently declared a drought disaster area.
The stability of essential infrastructure, including water and power systems, is vital for Sabah’s economic growth and overall security. We must work together to manage these challenges and ensure the well-being of our communities.
In light of the escalating challenges posed by the surge in open fire incidents, prolonged hot spells, water rationing, and increased electricity demand, the possibility of a power blackout looms large if these conditions persist.
Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB), as a utility company, is tirelessly working to avert such a scenario, recognizing the shared desire among consumers to maintain uninterrupted power supply.
To address this ongoing issue, the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS) together with SESB is actively promoting the participation of large power consumers (LPC) equipped with their own generator sets (gensets) in the Demand Side Management (DSM) programme.
By encouraging LPCs to reduce their reliance on the grid during peak demand periods, this initiative aims to alleviate strain and minimize the need for load shedding according to ECoS.
Through this, LPCs would operate their gen-sets upon instruction by SESB during periods of critical shortage of generation capacity.
It is reported that 19 large power consumers have embraced the DSM programme, resulting in a commendable reduction of up to 18MW in grid demand when activated.
As part of the DSM programme, ECoS has stated that consumers participating will receive compensation for the diesel used to operate their gensets during the designated DSM periods.
However, if the load reduction achieved through DSM remains insufficient, manual load shedding may still be necessary.
Despite the necessity for such measures, we emphasize the importance of consumer engagement in energy efficiency and conservation practices. By adopting simple yet effective habits, consumers can not only reduce the likelihood of load shedding but also lower their electricity bills and carbon footprint.
For instance, setting air conditioners to a moderate temperature range of 24 to 26 degrees Celsius can yield energy savings of up to 33 percent.
The extensive use of air conditioning units, often set at low temperatures like 16 degrees Celsius, significantly impacts our power demand, especially during periods of intense heat waves.
Additionally, according to ECoS, avoiding the use of high-powered appliances, such as kettles, during peak periods—typically between 10 am to 12 noon, 2 pm to 4 pm, and 6 pm to 8 pm on normal working days—can further alleviate strain on the grid.
These small adjustments in consumption behaviour can collectively make a significant difference in ensuring a stable and reliable power supply for all.
The potential for widespread blackouts during such conditions is not just a theoretical concern—it’s a real and increasingly likely scenario.
Deadly outages have occurred in places like Pakistan in 2015 and 2018 when power demand exceeded grid capacity.
At SESB, we’re leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to boost generation capacity. One such initiative involves the innovative resumption of operations at our power plant in SJ Patau-patau, Labuan.
Through the expertise of our in-house specialists, we anticipate an additional 60MW of electricity supply daily to bolster the Sabah Grid once two turbines (GT2 and GT3) resumes operation earlier than scheduled in December 2024.
While these efforts are underway, it’s crucial for every consumer to recognize the gravity of the situation and play their part as smart power users. Simple actions like reducing excessive power consumption during this weather can have a significant impact.
What may seem like a small individual effort collectively contributes to our collective resilience.
Together, by being mindful of our energy usage and working in tandem with SESB’s initiatives, we can navigate through these extreme weather conditions safely and ensure the reliability of our power supply for all.
- The views expressed here are the views of the writer Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express.
- If you have something to share, write to us at: [email protected]
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