Substation fires cut power to city districts amid tampering suspicions

A municipal electricity utility reported fires at two of its substations within about a two week period, cutting power to surrounding communities and businesses. At the first substation, around 90 percent of affected residents had power restored almost immediately, while the remaining 10 percent were without electricity for about nine days. A second substation fire, at one of 19 substations in the inner city, affected further residential and commercial customers, and no restoration timeline was given because the site had to be cleared before investigators could assess the damage. The utility stated that most cable joint faults would result in a 'pop' that can be repaired, and that the equipment should not catch fire, leading it to suspect that foul play may have been involved. Investigations were continuing at the time of reporting and the utility said tampering could not be ruled out. No injuries or fatalities were reported.

The utility noted that some of its infrastructure and cable joints are ageing and susceptible to damage, while also stating that some of the damage observed pointed to possible tampering. No cause had been confirmed at the time of reporting.

1. Distinguish between routine ageing related electrical faults and anomalous damage patterns that may indicate deliberate interference, and investigate promptly.
2. Maintain clear public communication on restoration timelines when a proportion of customers face extended outages.
3. Strengthen physical security and monitoring of substation sites where tampering is suspected, to reduce the risk of recurrence.
4. Ensure site clearance and damage assessment procedures are efficient so that investigation and repair are not prolonged.

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