Major blackout to hit southern Phuket

PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority (PPEA) has announced a major blackout scheduled to affect residents and businesses in Chalong tomorrow.

PPEA staff will be carrying out maintenance work on high-voltage power lines.

“We will replace power cables in many areas this month to prevent unscheduled blackouts and fluctuations in power supply,” PPEA Operations Chief Yongyuth Podbutr told the Phuket Gazette today.

“The existing power cables are very old. In some areas, the cables are damaged and no longer have shielding, which makes them prone to short circuiting,” Mr Yongyuth said.

“When a tree or an animal comes into contact with an unshielded cable, this can cause a short circuit or even a fire,” he explained.

The scheduled blackout tomorrow, from 9am to 5pm, will affect the west side of Chao Fa West Road, from the PPEA substation (map here) to HomePro Village near Chalong Circle (map here).

The areas to be affected by the blackout include Chaofa Thani Village, Baan Nai Trok, Soi Baan Klang, Baan Bang Rae, Soi Bang Rae, Soi Yod Sane 1, Soi Yod Sane 2, Ananda Garden Hills, Soi Pradthana and Soi Anusorn.

Several other blackouts are scheduled for this month:

Wichit: November 14 (9am to 4pm)

Wichit Songkram Road, from in front of Surakul Stadium (map here) to Darasamuth School.

Chalong: November 21 (9am to 5pm)

Patak Road, from Chalong Circle to Soi Hin Khao on Kata Hill, including Chalong Center village, Patak Villa in Soi Anusorn and Phuket Shooting Range.

Rawai: November 26 (9am to noon)

Wiset Road, east side only, from Soi Ruam Uthit (opposite Muang Phuket School, just south of Chalong Circle) to Fisherman Way Housing Estate.

— Irfarn Jamdukor