Seven Power Outages in Northern Taiwan in Two Weeks|北部半個月7跳電 台電澄清無關缺電

There have been seven power outages in northern Taiwan in the last two weeks. Taiwan Power says 30 percent of the cases are due to old equipment and the other 70 percent are due to cables damaged from construction. It says the outages were not caused by a power shortage.


There was a 2-minute power outage at Songshan Airport on May 17. The area around the airport lost power for four minutes. Three days later, there was a 10-minute outage at Taoyuan International Airport that caused major chaos with the baggage handling system. Two days after that, there was a half-hour power outage at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. In the last two weeks alone, there have been seven outages in northern Taiwan. Taiwan Power says the outages were caused by feeder issues and have nothing to do with the rumored power shortage.

Around 70 percent of the outages had external causes, and 30 percent were due to (old and outdated) equipment. Our operating reserve is currently being maintained at above 5 percent. None of this has anything do with power shortages or blackouts.

However, soaring power consumption is a reality. Noontime temperatures have reached 35 degrees on 12 days so far this month and power usage hit 34.77 million kilowatts at 1:49 p.m. on the 22nd, the second highest this year. The operating reserve also fell below 6 percent. One expert says Taiwan Power has been reducing voltage and downgrading frequencies because of the power shortage and this is what is causing the outages.

In my opinion, a power shortage is to blame. They are constantly reducing voltage and downgrading frequencies. The fluctuating levels damage belt feeder systems.

Economic Affairs Minister Shen Jong-chin says he has already asked Taiwan Power to submit an improvement plan by next week. Taipower has also been asked to draft a facility and network replacement plan.