When a massive nationwide power failure occurred on July 31, 1992, it was said to be caused by a bolt of lightning during a thunderstorm, which struck a grid comprising four power lines between the Paka and Telok Kalong substations in Terengganu.

That, like the recent tsunami, might be attributed to an 'act of God' beyond Tenaga Nasional Berhad's control.

But was the four-hour power outage last week attributable to an 'act of God' or an omission (non act) on the part of TNB?

This massive power failure was blamed by TNB on a 'busbar failure' at 12.16pm at the switchyard area of the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah power station in Kapar.

(I understand that before electricity arrives at a business or home, it must travel through a distribution substation. Substations are fenced-in yards containing switches, transformers and other electrical equipment, the main purpose of which is to lower transmission voltage to feed the distribution system.

Within the substation, rigid tubular or rectangular bars, called busbars, or buses, which are cable and conductors, feed power from the transformers to the distribution circuits. Circuit breakers automatically disconnect power to a circuit in the event of a failure or interruption.)

I would imagine that a failure of the busbar would raise the questions as to whether TNB had (1) sufficiently put into place proper busbar protection measures and (2) generally discharged its obligation to maintain a proper electricity distribution system - after four major blackouts in a span of 20 years.

TNB is certainly very efficient in sending monthly bills to consumers for power usage and in cutting off power supply when the outstanding is not paid. Is it equally efficient in discharging its obligations to provide a proper service to the nation?

Once again TNB may apologise, as it had always done following a power failure inconveniencing millions and costing perhaps billions in economic cost - but are apologies alone sufficient?

According to a report in The Star , after the blackout of July 31 1992, one of the countermeasures TNB was supposed to take was to provide portable power generators in densely populated areas to ensure continuous supply.

And after the power failure of Aug 3, 1996 (caused by a transmission line near Paka tripping), TNB itself recommended a reduction of dependence on gas turbine power stations to lower the risk of a major system failure.

Also, TNB was expected to spend between RM50 million to RM100 million per year in the five years following the 1996 power failure to improve the reliability and security of the nation's electricity distribution.

Have these measures been carried out since 1996? I call on TNB to respond.