Power Outages in Pekanbaru Trigger Disruptions and Community Losses
A power outage that struck several regions across Sumatra, including Riau Province, caused widespread impact for residents from Friday evening, 22 May 2026 onwards. In Pekanbaru City, residents experienced blackouts from dusk until the early morning hours, before the situation continued with rolling blackouts affecting various areas.
The power supply disruption triggered multiple losses, ranging from disrupted household activities, halted business operations, to damage of electrical equipment. The impact was even felt by Pekanbaru Mayor Agung Nugroho.
Dozens of koi fish belonging to Agung died due to the power outage, which caused the circulation system and pond support systems to malfunction. Twenty-nine koi fish were found dead on Saturday morning, 23 May 2026.
“I only found out this morning. The power outage last night indeed left negative consequences,” said Agung.
He explained that the absence of a generator at his residence caused the pond system to shut down completely when the power failed. According to him, similar conditions were experienced by many residents, including business operators.
The power outage also struck the small business sector, which is highly dependent on stable electricity supply. Harris, an operator of a mobile coffee cart UMKM, admitted he was forced to halt production since the day before.
“We’ve been stopped since yesterday because of the power outage. Even when the power came back on last night, the current was unstable,” he said.
The unstable electrical current also damaged several of his electrical appliances, adding to potential losses. He expressed concern that if conditions continued, his business could face greater impact.
Similar complaints were voiced by Elis, owner of a PlayStation rental business in West Sidomulyo District. She stated that her business was forced to close entirely due to the lack of electricity supply.
“We closed down last night, couldn’t open because PlayStation obviously relies on electricity. There was no information at all, just immediate blackout,” she said.
Elis also expressed disappointment because the power outage was not the first time it had occurred. According to her, recurring electrical disruptions for various reasons, including network maintenance, increasingly hampered business continuity.
To date, several areas in Pekanbaru City continue to experience rolling blackouts. Residents hope that the relevant authorities can quickly restore power supply and provide explanation regarding the disruption that has affected community activities and the economy.