A widespread power outage swept across Bali on the afternoon of 2 May 2025, disrupting daily life and major tourism events as electricity was knocked out across the island’s nine regencies.
The blackout began at approximately 16.00 WITA and was triggered by a technical fault in the Java–Bali High Voltage Submarine Cable (SKLT), according to initial findings from state electricity firm PT PLN (Persero).
PLN’s Director of Distribution, Adi Priyanto, confirmed that the blackout was not caused by a cyberattack, as some had speculated, but stemmed from a fault in the power transmission system that disrupted supply from Java and caused multiple generators in Bali to shut down.
“The issue lies with a technical problem in the transmission system, not a cyberattack,” Adi said on Saturday, 3 May. “Within 30 to 45 minutes, supply began to return gradually across Bali.”
By midnight, around 1,6 million customers—nearly 90 percent of those affected—had their power restored. Electricity to critical infrastructure including hospitals, airports, and seaports was also fully restored by that time, PLN stated.
Events disrupted in southern Bali
The outage brought much of the island to a standstill, with disruptions reported in Denpasar, Badung, Jembrana, Bangli, Karangasem, Tabanan, Klungkung, Buleleng, and Gianyar.
In the south, the blackout caused particular disruption in the tourism zone of Nusa Dua, where the international IFSC Climbing World Cup 2025 and the Kartini Fest were being held.
“We’re currently carrying out system recovery before full normalization,” PLN Bali spokesperson Anom Silaparta said during the outage on Friday.
Government begins investigation
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has launched a formal investigation into the blackout. Jisman Hutajulu, Director General of Electricity at the ministry, said electrical inspectors had been dispatched to examine the affected power infrastructure and ensure accountability.
“Initial indications suggest the outage was triggered by a disturbance in the SKLT,” Jisman said in a statement on Monday, 5 May. “This led to a disconnect in electricity supply from the power source, resulting in widespread blackouts across Bali.”
Jisman added that power was successfully restored within 35 minutes through rapid recovery of the transmission line, with essential services supported temporarily by backup generators. Full electricity supply—totalling 747 megawatts—was fully reinstated across the island by 03.30 WITA on 3 May.
As a preventative measure, the ministry has instructed PLN to conduct a full audit of its operational and maintenance procedures.
“We have asked PLN to complete a comprehensive audit of its SOPs and ensure similar large-scale outages do not occur in Bali or other regions,” Jisman said.
The incident has raised concerns about the reliability of Bali’s electricity infrastructure, especially as the island continues to host high-profile events and attract millions of visitors.
