Power cut in Penang: how to report it and check planned outages

The short version

• Report a power cut or breakdown: call or SMS 15454. TNB says this works anywhere in Peninsular Malaysia with mobile coverage, 24 hours.
• Have ready: your contact number, name and address, and whether your neighbours have lost power too.
• Planned outages: TNB's Power Alert page lets you pick Pulau Pinang, an area and a date range.
• Bills and accounts: 1-300-88-5454, not 15454.
• A big outage can cut water too. In October 2026, a TNB outage shut down Penang's largest water treatment plant.

Report it: 15454

TNB's Call Management Centre handles outage reports. TNB says:

• Call 15454 from anywhere in Peninsular Malaysia with mobile coverage. A call costs the same as a local call.
• SMS 15454 is free. It works for Celcom, Digi and Maxis subscribers. Type REG or DFTR to register, BD to report a breakdown, or L to report a faulty street light, and send it to 15454.
• When you call, give your contact number, name and address. Say whether the problem is only in your home or your neighbours are affected too. That tells TNB whether the fault is inside your premises or in its supply system.

TNB's Facebook page, TNB Careline, is another way to reach it.

TNB's Guaranteed Service Levels set how long it may take to restore supply. On Penang island and in Seberang Perai that is 3 hours for a fault from minor damage, or for a medium-voltage breakdown with another supply source; 12 hours for a medium-voltage breakdown with no other source; and 4 hours for a partial grid blackout, 18 hours for a total one. Natural disasters, bad weather and planned work are not covered. If TNB misses the time, a home can claim within two months of the outage a rebate of 1% of that month's bill or RM10, whichever is higher. The service levels say nothing about spoiled food or damaged appliances.

Sources: TNB Careline, read 2026-10-14; TNB, Guaranteed Service Level, read 2026-10-25.

Just your house, or the whole street?

• Neighbours have power, you do not: the fault may be inside your home. TNB says that if an earth leakage circuit breaker (ELCB) trips again when you switch it back on, there may be damage to your equipment or wiring, and you should get a registered contractor to inspect it.
• The whole street is dark: report it to 15454 and say that neighbours are affected.
• A pole or line is down: stay away from fallen electrical poles and power lines, TNB says, and report it.

Sources: TNB Safety Tips and TNB Careline, read 2026-10-14.

Planned outages

TNB carries out preventive maintenance throughout the year. Its Power Alert page lets you choose a state (Pulau Pinang is listed), an area and a date range to see if your area will be affected. TNB says customers can also view outages on a map.

Source: TNB Power Alert, read 2026-10-14.

Bills and other questions

Sources: TNB Careline and TNB Power Alert, read 2026-10-14.

When a power cut also cuts the water

At 11.17pm on 8 October 2026, a sudden TNB power outage shut down PBAPP's Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant, affecting 130,790 water consumers in Seberang Perai and on the island. PBAPP said its backup generators could not be deployed in time, and that it was the fourth such outage to affect the plant. Water takes longer to come back than power, because the plant has to restart in sequence and rebuild pressure. See Water cut in Penang.

Source: PBAPP media release, 9 October 2026, read 2026-10-14.

Floods

If water is rising in your home, TNB says to switch off the main switch and call 15454 to disconnect the supply. See Flood in Penang.

Source: TNB Safety Tips, read 2026-10-14.

Related

• Who to call in Penang
• Water cut in Penang