Batam Power Outage: Here Is What Caused It

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia — PT PLN Batam has restored electricity to customers affected in Batam following a power-system failure that caused widespread outages at 6.37am on Monday (12 October 2026). The system was restored through the sustained efforts of technical and operational teams, which normalised the electricity network in stages.

Initial indications suggest the disruption was caused by a wild animal entering the Sungai Harapan substation, affecting electrical equipment and disrupting supply in several areas. Technical teams and the relevant authorities are still investigating the exact cause.

Rudi Antono, PLN Batam’s corporate secretary, said restoration had made significant progress since Monday evening. “All affected substations and transmission networks have been restored, followed by the recovery of distribution networks, and electricity has returned to all affected customers in Batam,” Rudi said in a press release on Tuesday (13 October 2026).

The restoration involved a series of carefully managed technical steps, from inspecting and normalising power plants and synchronising units to restoring transmission and distribution networks. Safety, system stability and reliability remained priorities throughout the process.

Although supply has returned to normal, Rudi said PLN Batam would keep technical and operational staff on standby to monitor the system and ensure reliable electricity for the public.

PLN Batam also said it was committed to upholding customers’ service-quality rights. If the disruption exceeded the agreed Service Quality Level (TMP) or Service Level Agreement (SLA), the company would provide compensation in accordance with applicable rules.

Regular customers will receive compensation equal to 10% of their monthly fixed charge, under Riau Islands Governor Regulation No. 22 of 2017. Customers on reliability-service plans will receive compensation of 15% to 25% of their electricity-use charge (RPTL), depending on the service agreed.

“The compensation will be applied automatically to the next electricity bill, with no claim required from customers. PLN Batam apologises for the inconvenience and appreciates the public’s patience, understanding and support during the restoration process,” Rudi said.