| James Kon |
BUSINESS premises in the bustling Gadong commercial area yesterday experienced an electricity disruption for around five hours, which allegedly cost them some customers.
The owners are now hoping to apply for a recently-introduced compensation scheme to reimburse businesses affected by unexpected power outages exceeding three hours.
According to Jeffrey Wong, who owns a retail outlet at the Haji Daud Complex in Gadong, “The disruption started near 12 noon, and the generator arrived at around 5.20pm in an attempt to end the electricity supply problems in the area.”
Without electricity for five hours, he said, “Customers who came to my photo studio to develop pictures were forced to go to other studios.”
And even though the generator provided temporary power, “The electricity supply kept going on and off, which posed a risk to my computing systems.”
Without air-conditioning, barber shops in the area were also emptied of customers.
Electric generator at the vicinity of Haji Daud Complex in Gadong
Barbers sitting and waiting for customers following the temporary power disruption. – PHOTOS: JAMES KON
Jeffrey Wong said, “Recently, the Department of Electrical Services has introduced a compensation scheme with effect from June 1, 2016.
“I hope that we can get compensation for the five hours of power disruption.”
According to a press release issued on June 1 by Department of Electrical Services, only customers categorised in the commercial sector (Tariff B) – such as grocery shops, supermarkets and car workshops – will be eligible for compensation.
The compensation in kilowatt-hour (kWh) will be calculated based on the customer’s average usage per hour, and will be provided in the form of either a token credit issuance for customers using pre-paid meters, or in the form of kWh deduction from the prevailing bill for customers using the conventional post-paid or CT metres.
The cause of the electrical disruption is still under investigation.
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