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Sarawak Energy ensures security of electricity supply

KUCHING: Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) is committed to ensure security of electricity supply to avoid inconveniencing consumers.   Acknowledging recent incidents of power interruption, SEB said in a press statement yesterday that like other power utility providers, it encountered unplanned outages caused by natural elements like lightning, thunderstorms, trees and animals coming into contact with power lines and equipment. The power supply interruption that occurred in Kuching on Nov 11 was triggered by lightning activities in the vicinity of the 275kV Engkilili-Mambong lines, which caused them to trip.   The incident on Friday, Nov 23, that affected Kuching and Sibu regions was a result of the Selangau-Kemena line 2 tripping.   Fortunately, the Special Protection Scheme (SPS) was triggered to prevent further blackout, and power was fully restored within 30 minutes.   Then on Monday, Nov 26 one of the Bakun generating units tripped.   SEB recognised these problems and is taking measures like reinforcing transmission systems to mitigate the impact from unexpected outages and power interruptions.   They include construction of the Engkilili-Entinggan Transmission Line, which is 98 per cent complete, and expected for completion in March 2013 to provide the second 275 kV link to Kuching.   SEB will soon commence ringing the existing grid system with the construction of the 500kV transmission backbone.   This 600km second transmission line is to be constructed in two phases for completion in 2014 and 2015 respectively. With the completion of this second grid, the state will be well protected against system blackout.   The initiatives mentioned above will enhance the system’s performance against unplanned outages.   SEB regrets and apologises for the unexpected power outages and is taking measures to minimise such incidents and improve its restoration processes for the interest of consumers Read more:  http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/11/28/sarawak-energy-ensures-security-of-electricity-supply/#ixzz2EEKbffeP

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Minister: Embrace IT to meet water demand

MIRI: Water management boards in the state need to embrace advanced technology to meet the increasing demand for water, said Public Utilities Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan.   He said latest information technology (IT) for the utility sector such as the Geographical Information System (GIS) was vital to enhance productivity and quality, but so was greater public awareness on the importance of conserving water.   This is to prevent water crisis and rise in water tariff, as had happened in countries like Australia.   “Unlike in Australia where there is water-rationing and the people use water sparingly, here the people use treated water like nobody business to water their gardens and wash their cars everyday,” he said at the annual dinner of the Northern Sarawak Water Board (LAKU) here on Thursday night.   He saw the Selangor government’s provision of free 20 cubic metres of water to the ‘rakyat’ as a political ploy to win the people’s heart that could lead to possible water shortage by 2014.   He said the reliability and availability of adequate raw water sources was of strategic importance so the water board authorities should update the database on water resources, and protect the existing sources as best as possible.   Awang Tengah pointed out the need to provide safe, reliable, affordable and adequate uninterrupted water supply.   “Complaints and reports must be attended to promptly and professionally and LAKU should continue to invest in human resource development,” he said.   LAKU needed to keep abreast with modern technology in water supply in order to provide water that meet national and international water quality standards.   Awang Tengah was happy LAKU had been able to discharge its duties effectively in its 16 years of existence.   At the function he presented donations totalling RM9,100 from LAKU and the public to seven organisations: Autistic Association Miri, MRC Dialysis Centre and Sunflower Centre, Miri Methodist Children Home, Sarawak Society for the Blind, Human Life Service and Kelab Sosial dan Kebajikan Harmoni Miri (KSKHM).   Among those present were chairman of LAKU Management Sdn Bhd, Datuk Hubert Thian; Miri Resident Antonio Kahti Galis; Miri Mayor Lawrence Lai; CEO of LAKU management, Wong Tiong Kai and board members. Read more:  http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/12/17/minister-embrace-it-to-meet-water-demand/#ixzz1j7WBTW8L

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Power outage compensation not a norm, says Taib

KUCHING: Compensating consumers for the inconvenience and losses incurred due to power outage is not practised anywhere, Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said.   “Tell me which country does that,” he said to reporters after the adjournment of the state legislative assembly (DUN) sitting here yesterday. Taib, who is also Resource Planning and Environment Minister, said this when asked to comment on suggestions that Sarawak Energy Berhad be accountable for the inconveniences and losses incurred due to frequent power outage in the state.   He also said that such a situation was bound to happen when the state was undergoing the process of improving and upgrading its energy supply capacity.   He pointed out that the state had started its electricity generation using generators and hydro on a much smaller volume so in the process of intensifying the capacity there were bound to be some unexpected problems to the system.   “You must understand that when we improve (the system) there is also work to be done to upgrade a lot of the existing one. We started with less than 1,000 megawatts before with low quality generators and things that had been built over 30 years ago.   So there must be gap in between,” he explained.   Among those who suggested that the utility provider should either compensate or reduce monthly charges to offset losses caused by frequent tripping was the SUPP Youth movement.   In making the call through a media statement recently, the movement’s chief Tan Kai also urged the relevant authority to come up with effective solutions so that the problem can be solved for good. Read more:  http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/11/29/power-outage-compensation-not-a-norm-says-taib/#ixzz2EEJgTOjC

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Unimas working on integrated water management model

KUCHING: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) hopes to propose a better integrated water resource management model to the state government in the near future.   Unimas Centre of Water Research director Prof Dr Lau Seng said on Wednesday that the team led by him is currently working on the model. “We hope that the integrated water system could make Sarawak the leader in water resource and management sector,” he said at the Water Industry Networking Dinner 2012.   Lau, who is also Unimas Centre for Technology Transfer and Consultancy director, said the university would continue working with relevant parties to enhance research on water resource and management in the state.   Such close cooperation, he said, is required to ensure the state could establish a more sustainable water management system in the face of increasing demand.   He said this after receiving the Pehin Sri’s Excellent Water Industry Award 2012 on behalf of Unimas from Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Water Supply) Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran.   Announced during the opening of the Borneo Water and Waste Water Exhibition and Conference 2012 last Tuesday, the award acknowledges Unimas’ contribution to sustainable water management.   Unimas received RM10,000, a certificate and memento.   The exhibition was organised by the Malaysian Water Association (MWA). Read more:  http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/11/30/unimas-working-on-integrated-water-management-model/#ixzz2EEI64C7z

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Minister chides people bent on opposing devt projects

KUCHING: Second Minister of Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan yesterday hit out at people   bent on opposing government projects.   He said there were a few cases where projects like bringing electricity supply to rural areas had to be delayed due to opposition from the people. He gave one example where the authority had encountered a problem erecting electricity pole even at a road reserve which an individual claimed as belonging to him. This had resulted in delay to the project.   “In some places, projects have to be delayed due to opposition from some people and this will bring negative impact to the majority who are yearning for development,” he told the press after presenting compensation to people whose land had been acquired for the building of Kelait- Entangor road in Sebuyau.   The Minister of Industrial Development said people who opposed government projects were being instigated by the opposition.   He urged the people not to listen to the opposition playing ‘irresponsible’ politics and creating hatred among the people.   Awang Tengah, who is also Minister of Public Utilities, said the people should understand why the government had to acquire their land sometimes.   “Land is acquired for the building of roads and other facilities. Land is acquired based on the law,” he added.   He also advised the people to maintain the present unity and harmony among the races and religions.   “No race in the state can claim to be a majority group. We can only become big if we live and work together,” he said.   One hundred and eighteen land owners affected by the road project received compensation totalling RM176, 676.   Thirty-four others, whose land were acquired for the building of Sebuyau New Township, received RM147,191 while 19 people received land titles.   Among those present at the function were Assistant Minister of Rural Development Julaihi Narawi, Sadong Jaya assemblyman Aidel Lariwoo, Superintendant of Land and Survey Department (Samarahan) Rozlan Putit, Simunjan District Officer Zainul Abidin Hussain and SAO Abdul Rahman Brahim. Read more:  http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/12/19/minister-chides-people-bent-on-opposing-devt-projects/#ixzz2G8ggHnr6

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Sarawak Energy clarifies company’s practice

KUCHING: Sarawak Energy yesterday clarified that it is the company’s standard practice, and in the interest of its customers, to notify customers for meter inspection or replacement.   It said this in response to a statement made by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Lanang chairman George Chen in a local daily published on Dec 17, It is also a requirement for the customer to be present to witness the procedure. Nevertheless, there are exceptions.   According to a press statement, these instances include scenarios where should the customer fail to avail himself or refuse to be approached then Sarawak Energy has the right to proceed with the inspection.   However, such situations are only applicable for meters installed at the gate, CMC (Central Metering Cabinet), staircase, five-foot-way and at the pole.   “As the meters are security devices belonging to the company, we reserves the right to replace faulty meters, be it old or new, and more importantly for them to be regularly maintained. Our meter inspection teams are professionally trained in this aspect, and any abnormality detected must be explained to customers,” said a Sarawak Energy spokesperson.   “We wish to also clarify that the meters installed are in accordance with international standards and are being used in Asean countries and Europe.   “To address customers’ concerns, it will be helpful for us to have their details such as their names and account number for us to investigate matters related to meter and billing,” he added.   Sarawak Energy values feedback from customers and encourage affected ones to contact its regional offices in Sibu at 084-332020 or Miri at 085-652020 for assistance. Read more:  http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/12/19/sarawak-energy-clarifies-companys-practice/#ixzz2G8jzruuW

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State launches on-line counter system

KUCHING: The state on Saturday launched the Electrical Inspectorate Unit (EIU) Main Information and Database System (eMINDS) to replace the traditional counter service system in its effort to be an electronic government.   The eMINDS system, developed by Sarawak Information System (Sains) is to simplify the gathering of information and provide access to the public to obtain and enquire services from the Electrical Inspectorate Unit (EIU) under the Ministry of Public Utilities. Among the services currently available is the application and renewal of certificates of approval and import permit for electrical appliances, electrical competencies, electrical contractors and switchboard manufacturers.   Launching the EIU eMINDS system on Saturday night at a leading hotel in Santubong here was Public Utilities Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, who said the launch reflected his ministry’s strive towards constant upgrading of their services. Among the ministry’s main projects next year, he said, was building a water supply system from Sibu to Tanjung Manis.   “This is to cater to the demands of the locals as well as the investors within the halal hub area,” said Awang Tengah, who is also the Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment.   He also said under the National Key Results Area (NKRA), a fund of RM1.7 billion had been allocated for rural water supply and rural electricity supply in Sarawak. “Some projects have been implemented while some are still ongoing,” he said, adding that the vastness of the state was a huge hurdle.   On another note, Awang Tengah said his ministry and some government-linked companies had carried out RM1.5 billion worth of projects related to telecommunication facilities to achieve the 50 per cent penetration rate in Sarawak. Touching on the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), he noted that so far the state government had managed to attract nearly RM30 billion in foreign investments.   By 2020, he said, about 8,500mw of electricity would be needed by the industries in SCORE.   Turning to Sarawak Energy Berhad, he urged the corporation to look into tackling the frequent blackouts during the past month.   On the Public Utilities Ministry, he said it would continue to send officers overseas to improve the quality of their services through new ideas and concept.   He applauded the ministry, through Sarawak Energy Berhad, for winning an award at the State Civil Service Day and the Sibu Water Board for receiving  the Chief Minister’s Environmental Award 2012 and winning second place for Excellent Counter Service 2012 during the State Civil Service Day.   Also present were his wife Datuk Dayang Morliah Datuk Awang Daud, Assistant Minister for Public Utilities (Water Supply) Datuk Sylvester Entrie Muran, Ministry of Public Utilities permanent secretary Ubaidillah Abdul Latif and Sarawak Information System CEO Datuk Teo Tien Hiong. Read more:  http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/12/10/state-launches-on-line-counter-system/#ixzz2G8kZfRoV

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20 pct of electricity meters found tampered with

KUCHING: The tampering of electricity meters in Bau and Kuching has reached alarming proportions, says a statement from Sarawak Sesco Berhad yesterday. Following several public tip-offs, Sesco assisted by police found 20 per cent of all meters inspected in both areas had been tampered with. In a recent case in 2012, a cybercafe operating as an online gambling centre was found to have installed a fake meter in Musi, Bau. According to Sesco, the non-standard meter to mislead inspection teams and meter readers was not registered with Sesco. Investigation papers have been lodged and the customer will be called for questioning. The team also found electricity tapping and meter tampering at Kampung Sungai Pinang and other areas in Bau town. In Kuching, many tampering cases were detected at Taman Julemas and Sin Hai Min Garden, Jalan Stutong. Among the evidence were tapping marks on meter cables that were tampered with then rectified when SEB inspected the neighbourhood. Sesco will act by replacing the meter and analysing its consumption pattern before billing the culprits for arrears, and prosecuting them in court. It reminds the public not to tamper with or modify the meter’s wiring system to save electricity bill as it will jeopardise the house’s protective system designed to cut off the supply of electricity in the event of an internal fault. Tampered meters and wiring systems are dangerous as they can cause electrocution and fires, with ensuing loss of life and property. Stealing electricity is a dangerous crime punishable under Section 33(5) of the Electricity Ordinance, punishable with a fine up to RM100,000 or imprisonment of five years or both. The public is encouraged to continue to report power theft at 082-443535 and the info would be kept confidential. Share this: Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/01/12/20-pct-of-electricity-meters-found-tampered-with/#ixzz2JPzmXZ9u KUCHING: The tampering of electricity meters in Bau and Kuching has reached alarming proportions, says a statement from Sarawak Sesco Berhad yesterday. Following several public tip-offs, Sesco assisted by police found 20 per cent of all meters inspected in both areas had been tampered with. In a recent case in 2012, a cybercafe operating as an online gambling centre was found to have installed a fake meter in Musi, Bau. According to Sesco, the non-standard meter to mislead inspection teams and meter readers was not registered with Sesco. Investigation papers have been lodged and the customer will be called for questioning. The team also found electricity tapping and meter tampering at Kampung Sungai Pinang and other areas in Bau town. In Kuching, many tampering cases were detected at Taman Julemas and Sin Hai Min Garden, Jalan Stutong. Among the evidence were tapping marks on meter cables that were tampered with then rectified when SEB inspected the neighbourhood. Sesco will act by replacing the meter and analysing its consumption pattern before billing the culprits for arrears, and prosecuting them in court. It reminds the public not to tamper with or modify the meter’s wiring system to save electricity bill as it will jeopardise the house’s protective system designed to cut off the supply of electricity in the event of an internal fault. Tampered meters and wiring systems are dangerous as they can cause electrocution and fires, with ensuing loss of life and property. Stealing electricity is a dangerous crime punishable under Section 33(5) of the Electricity Ordinance, punishable with a fine up to RM100,000 or imprisonment of five years or both. The public is encouraged to continue to report power theft at 082-443535 and the info would be kept confidential.   Share this: Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/01/12/20-pct-of-electricity-meters-found-tampered-with/#ixzz2JPzmXZ9u

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Strong support essential for project implementation

KUCHING: Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan yesterday called for stronger co-operation from the people to ensure all development projects are implemented smoothly.   He said while the government continued to bring projects to the rural areas, it was crucial for the people to give their full support and not cause problems.   “Our (government) effort to give basic amenities such as rural electrification schemes (RES), water and roads to the rural areas is not all about allocation.   “Equally important is that the people should give their support for the projects to be implemented smoothly,” Awang Tengah, who is also Public Utilities Minister, told reporters after launching an RES project for Kampung Biya Kamas, SK Kambug and Kampung Nusaraya Maras in Padawan, about 60km from here.   He told those present that it was inevitable that many projects would trespass properties and land owned by the villagers.   “To have the projects, sometimes the contractor will have to cut trees owned by the villagers, so cooperation from the people is really needed.”   Under the National Key Results Area (NKRA), he said the state had set a target that 95 per cent of the rural populace would get to enjoy round-the-clock electricity supply through either the grid system or other alternatives.   Awang Tengah estimated that some 78,000 households in various parts of the state have yet to have electricity supply.   In Mambong constituency, the government had spent RM96 million on RES and more than 5,000 households now have electricity supply since 2009.   Awang Tengah pointed out that it was quite costly to provide RES, saying that in some villages, the cost of connecting the supply to a single household could vary from as much as RM54,000 to about RM100,000.   Among those present at the launching were Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunications) Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Deputy Tourism Minister and Mambong MP Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit and Deputy State Assembly Speaker Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn. Read more:  http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/01/26/strong-support-essential-for-project-implementation/#ixzz2JWxQ7U88

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SEB’s customer care centre operates 24/7

KUCHING: Sarawak Energy’s Customer Care Centre, which operates round-the-clock to meet rising customer demands, was officially launched by State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani yesterday.   The centre is manned by 10 staff in the morning, six in the afternoon, and between two and four during night shifts. Since operation started last September, some 220 calls had been registered on a daily basis.   Most of the complaints were on power outages and billings.   Sarawak Energy corporate services head Aisah Eden said the centre began dealing with technical queries for Kuching last November, and had thus far handled about 20,000 calls covering Kuching, Serian, and Sri Aman.   Forty-three per cent of the calls were on customer services, billings as well as technical queries such as power outage, faulty street lights and meter damages, she said at the launch at Wisma Sesco in Jalan Bako here.   Aisah assured that all staff manning the customer care centre had been professionally trained for the tasks entrusted to them.   “The centre reflects the importance of communication in order to deliver a world-class service to our customers. It also recognises the role of Sarawak Energy in the long-term development of the state.   “With this improved delivery of services operating 24 hours a day and seven days a week, we hope it will also further improve our customer relationships.”   Besides phone calls, she added that customers would be able to contact the centre via email, fax and short messaging system (SMS) too.   Speaking to the press later, Aisah said Sarawak Energy would expand its customer care services to the central and northern regions of the state this year.   “The service is divided into customer enquiries and technical queries. As far as technical queries go, we aim at setting up a second disaster recovery centre to better serve our customers.”   On the SMS services, she said plans were underway to offer easy access to customers for billing enquiries as well as outages and faulty street lightings.   The new centre is equipped with state-of-the-art contact centre technology to handle the influx of calls especially during outages.   It will also be able to monitor transactions and keep track of the services rendered by its customer care staff.   The system has intelligent queuing call back feature and broadcast announcements to cater for the surge in calls during outages so as to enable centre agents to return callers’ calls.   Sarawak Energy’s assistant general manager for customer management and metering services division, Lau Kim Swee, conceded that customers used to lament about customer call line being engaged, but with the latest technology in place the customer care staff would be able to respond to complaints promptly.   On response time, Lau said it all depended on the nature of complaints and outage, but some issues could be dealt with within 15 minutes.   Customers can forward their feedback and complaints by dialing 1300-88-3111 or email customercare@sarawakenergy.com.my.   Among those present at the launching ceremony were Padawan Municipal Council chairman Lo Khere Chiang, Temenggong Lu Kim Yong and Customer Care Centre manager Christina Lai. Read more:  http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/01/26/sebs-customer-care-centre-operates-247/#ixzz2JWyC7NnV