Why Does Sabah Have So Many Power Cuts?
Why does Sabah have so many power cuts?
According to the state energy plan, SE-RAMP 2040, Sabah has had too little spare generating capacity (a 16% reserve margin in 2021 against a 30–35% standard), only one main 275 kV line carrying power to the east coast, ageing power plants, and long rural lines with bare wires. Average outage time fell from 777 minutes in 2014 to 226 minutes by July 2026; the target is under 100 minutes by 2030.
How bad are Sabah's power cuts?
Utilities measure power cuts with SAIDI: the average minutes without power per customer per year. Sabah's has fallen a long way, but it is still well above the target.
| Year | Average outage minutes (SAIDI) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 777.3 | SE-RAMP |
| 2021 | 332.1 | SE-RAMP |
| 2023 | 598 | Chief Minister, Sep 2026 |
| 2024 | 207 | SESB, May 2025 |
| July 2026 | 226 | Chief Minister, Sep 2026 |
| Target, end 2030 | below 100 | SE-RAMP |
SAIDI has been counted in different ways. SE-RAMP says major incidents, such as a whole power station or a transmission line tripping, were left out of the figures before 2021 and included from 2021. Figures from SESB and the state government since then do not always match. The long-run trend is more reliable than any single year.
SE-RAMP separates two kinds of cut. Wide-area blackouts come from faults or "trippings" at power stations and on the high-voltage transmission lines. Local cuts come from the distribution network in towns and villages; they affect fewer people but happen more often.
Reason 1: not enough spare power
The reserve margin is spare generating capacity above peak demand. With a healthy margin, when one plant trips another takes over. SE-RAMP says Sabah's fell from 36.0% in 2016 to 16.0% in 2021, against an industry standard of 30% to 35%. The state government reported 8% for 2024, 19% in August 2026 and an expected 26% by the end of 2026.
A thin margin has a second effect: plants cannot be taken offline for maintenance, because there is nothing to cover for them. SE-RAMP says ageing plants have been kept running past their productive life, and delays to new plants made this worse.
Reason 2: one main line to the east coast
Sabah's west and east coasts are divided by a chain of mountains that includes the state's highest peaks. Sabah's gas is concentrated on the west coast, and the east coast relies on power sent from the west to cover its shortfall. The two halves are joined mainly by the 275 kV Kolopis–Segaliud line, the East-West Link, which SE-RAMP calls a security risk in critical need of reinforcement.
What that means in practice: on 13 September 2025, a transmission tower on the Kolopis–Segaliud line collapsed in a landslide. SESB sent 27 mobile generator sets to Beluran, Kinabatangan, Sandakan, Semporna, Tawau, Lahad Datu and Telupid. The first circuit was reconnected on 17 September and the second on 21 September.
The planned fix is a second route, the Southern Link, running from Mengalong near Sipitang through Upper Padas to Tawau, so that the east coast is no longer fed by one line.
Reason 3: old plants and long rural lines
SE-RAMP blames Sabah's high local outage rate on a distribution network of bare conductors and long lines reaching a dispersed population, and on SESB's weak finances in the past, which limited investment. SESB's plan is to replace them with insulated aerial bundled cable, starting in the areas with the most outages.
The plan also says RM2.295 billion of grid projects were built through the Sabah Special Project Planning and Delivery Unit (SAPADU), but long delays held back their benefits; with most of them completed or nearly completed, it expected the grid to improve. It estimates another RM2 billion is needed for transmission and distribution, including the Southern Link.
What is being done, and is it working?
| Fix | What it does | Status as of September 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Segaliud–Dam Road line upgrade to 275 kV | More power from Sandakan side to Lahad Datu, Kunak and Semporna | SESB said in March 2025 it would double transfer to the east coast from 200 MW to 400 MW, with operation from April 2025; we have not found confirmation of completion |
| Power from Sarawak | Extra supply into the west of the grid | Live since 13 December 2025, up to 50 MW (see power plan) |
| Lahad Datu battery storage | Fast backup on the east coast when plants trip | 100 MW / 400 MWh inaugurated 12 December 2025 |
| New solar and hydro | More capacity, less gas | 450 MW solar programme under way; Upper Padas hydro due end 2030 |
| Southern Link | A second 275 kV route to the east coast | Phase 1A 17% built (May 2026), due September 2028; Phase 1B not yet dated |
SESB's own transformation plan set an interim target of 150 minutes SAIDI by 2025 and below 100 minutes by 2030 (SE-RAMP, p.69). Status as of September 2026: we have not found a published figure for 2025; the latest figures, 207 minutes for 2024 and 226 minutes as of July 2026, are above the 2025 interim target.
Frequently asked questions
Q Why does Sabah have frequent blackouts?
Q What is SAIDI?
Q Why does the east coast lose power when there is a problem near Kota Kinabalu?
Q When will Sabah's power cuts stop?
Sources & References 11 sources
Last verified: 27 September 2026
Latest status
- Malay Mail/Bernama, 21 Sep 2026: Sabah electricity reserve margin rises to 19pc Reserve margin 8% (2024), 19% (Aug 2026), 26% expected end 2026; SAIDI 598 (2023) to 226 minutes (July 2026).
- The Star, 29 May 2025: Sabah cuts power outage duration by half SESB: SAIDI 207 minutes in 2024.
- Borneo Post, 22 Sep 2025: 275kV Kolopis–Segaliud transmission line restored Tower collapse in a landslide on 13 September 2025; Line 1 back on 17 September, Line 2 on 21 September.
- Bernama, 15 Sep 2025: SESB deploys 27 mobile gensets to restore power in Sabah's east coast Beluran, Kinabatangan, Sandakan, Semporna, Tawau, Lahad Datu and Telupid.
- Sarawak Energy, 24 Jan 2026: energisation of the Sarawak-Sabah interconnection Power flowing since 13 Dec 2025; up to 50 MW.
- Energy-Storage.News, 12 Dec 2025: Malaysia’s first large-scale battery storage inaugurated in Sabah Lahad Datu BESS 100 MW / 400 MWh.
- Bernama, 20 Jul 2026: Sabah large-scale solar and renewable capacity 307 MW from renewables; 450 MW LSS programme (200 MW under construction, 250 MW in bidding).
- The Star, 5 May 2026: revised approval for Sabah hydro-solar hybrid (Ulu Padas) 187.5 MW hydro by 31 Dec 2030; 150 MWac floating solar by 31 Dec 2031.
- The Star, 12 Jun 2026: Building a stronger power lifeline for Sabah Sabah Southern Madani Link Phase 1A: 60 km, RM198 million, 17% complete (26 May 2026), due 16 Sep 2028.
- Daily Express, 23 Mar 2025: 275kV Segaliud–Dam transmission line to Lahad Datu set for April operation SESB CEO: transfer to the east coast to double from 200 MW to 400 MW.