State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) has announced that it will hold parties responsible and recover the full cost of repairs and service restoration from contractors whose negligence results in damage to underground power cables during excavation work. The state utility firm decided to enforce this strict measure following a rise in avoidable power disruptions that cause significant distress and inconvenience to the general public.
The announcement comes in the wake of an incident earlier this week in Hulhumalé Phase 1, where a private construction team severed a high-voltage electricity cable during ground excavation along Kuredhimaa Hingun, triggering a power outage. STELCO emphasised that such incidents have become increasingly frequent, making it imperative to implement decisive accountability measures and hold negligent parties financially liable.
According to STELCO, repairing severed underground cables and re-establishing stable power distribution incurs substantial expenses, while the broader community bears the brunt of unplanned service interruptions. To curb careless digging practices, the utility provider confirmed that all expenses related to technical repairs, labor, and operational restoration will now be billed directly to the entities responsible for damaging the infrastructure.
The company highlighted that the primary goal of this policy is to eliminate preventable disruptions, protect essential public utility infrastructure, and ensure uninterrupted, high-quality electricity supply to consumers across its distribution network.
STELCO urged all construction companies, state agencies, and private contractors undertaking excavation or building projects to coordinate their activities responsibly and implement proper site precautions to avoid compromising underground electrical lines.