While such disruptions in electricity supply are rare in Singapore, they serve as an important reminder of how crucial it is to be prepared to deal with such outage – something Alvin Toh, Senior Principal Engineer at the Energy Market Authority (EMA), and his team in the Land & Security department work tireless to ensure.

“We continuously look at different plausible disruption scenarios, build adequate redundancy, assess their impact on the power system, and develop contingency plans to keep the lights on,” Alvin shared.

Power emergencies are not caused by technical faults alone.

Take, for instance, the 2021/2022 global gas supply shortage. “Most of our power plants rely on natural gas to generate electricity. If there is a shortage of fuel supplies, it may disrupt our power plants operation,” Alvin pointed out.

Other potential threats include events like haze, and flooding, which could affect the supply of electricity.

To prepare for such challenges, Alvin and staff in EMA’s Land & Security Department works closely with stakeholders to assess various scenarios and work out the contingency plans.

In the event of a severe or prolonged disruption in power supply, he has worked with the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) to develop a power rationing plan which will be used as a last resort. “While such a plan may not be popular and poses inconveniences to consumers, it is necessary to maintain the overall stability of the power system while ensuring essential services continue,” he explained.

But having a plan is not enough – it must also be tested.

EMA conducts regular industry-wide exercises, simulating power outages and crisis situations. These exercises help EMA and the stakeholders fine-tune responses, improve coordination, and address any planning gaps before a real power emergency occurs.

“While we may not exercise these plans on a daily basis, we need to ensure that when the need arises, we have a well-thought out and effective plan in place,” he said.

With over a decade of experience in the power sector, including time as a project engineer previously at SP Group, Alvin has seen firsthand how power outages could occur unexpectedly — and how complex it is to restore power supply.

“Any disruption in the power system can potentially trigger an outage, And restoring power depends on various factors such as the availability of redundancies. At the same time, there is a need to ensure adequate redundancies without affecting cost-effectiveness," he added.

That is why preparation is key – not just for stakeholders in the power sector, but for individuals and organisations in the community as well.

Simple steps, like having their Emergency Ready Bags with essential items such as battery-operated torchlights and keeping a list of emergency contacts on standby, could make a big difference.

For organisations, being prepared also means putting in place measures such as taking stock of their areas of risks and planning contingencies to mitigate the impact of a power outage. “Maintaining business continuity is crucial for organisations. That’s why EMA has released a power outage readiness guide to help organisations be aware of how they can go about preparing for and managing a power outage,” Alvin said.

For Alvin and his team in the Land & Security department, it is all about staying one step ahead. They are constantly thinking about worst-case scenarios, identifying potential vulnerabilities, and developing and refining contingency plans to keep Singapore’s power system resilient.

“A lot of effort goes into preparing for and mitigating against power emergencies. But it’s effort worth spending. With careful preparation, regular testing, and a proactive approach, we will be better equipped to weather any power challenges that may arise,” Alvin concluded.