It has not been easy to quantify the losses and damages incurred by consumers in Sarawak due to the massive blackout on June 27 this year, the state assembly was told today.

However, the government recognised the severity of its impact and was taking action as well as measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, said state Assistant Minister of Public Utilities, Sylvester Entri Muran.

azlan "As the losses and damages not only affect the consumers from an economic perspective but also inconvenience caused, quantifying it accurately is difficult," he said in reply to Yap Hoi Liong (DAP-Dudong) during the question and answer session.

According to him, the state-owned power utility company Sarawak Energy Bhd and Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd, the operator of the Bakun hydroelectric project, have been tasked with the blackout preventive measures.

Entri said the current measures included a review of the grid system restoration procedures and enhancing the system's defence scheme on par with the rapid transmission expansion throughout the state.

Some of the other measures were to replace ageing equipment, intensive maintenance, anti-theft measures and regularising patrols to ensure excavations or piling works do not damage underground cables, he added.

- Bernama