Sumatra Blackout Ends as PLN Restores 176 Substations

PT PLN (Persero) has announced the complete restoration of Sumatra’s power system following a widespread transmission network disturbance. By 6:00 AM WIB on Sunday, 24 May, all 176 affected substations have resumed normal operation.

PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo stated that the restoration was achieved through the hard work of on-ground personnel, supported by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and local governments. Power supply to affected customers is gradually being restored across the impacted regions.

‘Alhamdulillah, thanks to the relentless efforts of field personnel and support from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and regional authorities, Sumatra’s power system has now returned to normal. Customers affected by the outage are regaining electricity supply progressively,’ Darmawan said while inspecting the operational readiness of PLTU Tenayan in Pekanbaru, Riau, on Sunday.

The restoration process was carried out systematically, prioritising safety and network reliability. After reconnecting Sumatra’s transmission interconnection, PLN synchronised power generation units to gradually feed power into the transmission system until full stability was achieved.

Darmawan also expressed gratitude to the public for their patience during the repair period, reaffirming PLN’s commitment to maintaining system reliability to prevent recurrence.

‘We thank the public for their patience and support throughout the restoration process,’ he added.

Sumatra Power Restoration Data (24 May 2026):

PLN confirmed the mass blackout was triggered by severe weather disrupting transmission. Power generation restoration is ongoing progressively.

PLN successfully restored Sumatra’s power system following a transmission disturbance, with 176 substations back online as of 24 May 2026.

This achievement underscores the company’s capability in delivering innovations focused on safety and reliability of the power system.