The 2005 Java–Bali Blackout was a power outage

Power outage

A power outage is a short- or long-term loss of the electric power to an area.There are many causes of power failures in an electricity network...

 across Java

Java

Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...

 and Bali

Bali

Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...

 on 18 August 2005. Affecting some 100 million people, it is to date the largest and most widespread power outage

Power outage

A power outage is a short- or long-term loss of the electric power to an area.There are many causes of power failures in an electricity network...

 in history.

Immediate impact

Power went off at around 10:23 AM (UTC+7) on 18 August 2005 across most areas of the two islands.

Cause

A transmission line between Cilegon

Cilegon

Cilegon is a major coastal industrial city in Banten province, Indonesia, covering 175.51 sqkm and has an official intercensal estimated population of 338,027 for 2007...

 and Saguling, both in West Java

West Java

West Java , with a population of over 43 million, is the most populous and most densely populated province of Indonesia. Located on the island of Java, it is slightly smaller in area than densely populated Taiwan, but with nearly double the population...

, failed at 10:23 am local time; this led to a cascading failure

Cascading failure

A cascading failure is a failure in a system of interconnected parts in which the failure of a part can trigger the failure of successive parts.- Cascading failure in power transmission :...

 that shut down two units of the Paiton plant in East Java

East Java

East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and islands to its east and to its north East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and...

 and six units of the Suralaya plant in West Java

West Java

West Java , with a population of over 43 million, is the most populous and most densely populated province of Indonesia. Located on the island of Java, it is slightly smaller in area than densely populated Taiwan, but with nearly double the population...

PT. PLN

Perusahaan Listrik Negara

PLN is an Indonesian government-owned corporation which has a monopoly on electricity distribution in Indonesia.- History :...

, the state-owned electricity company, confirmed that the electricity grid failed at several points throughout Java and the neighbouring island of Bali

Bali

Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...

, causing a supply shortfall of 2,700 MW, roughly half of the original supply.

Jakarta

Jakarta

Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...

 lost power completely, along with Banten

Banten

Banten is a province of Indonesia in Java. Formerly part of the Province of West Java, it was made a separate province in 2000.The administrative center is Serang. Preliminary results from the 2010 census counted some 10.6 million people.-Geography:...

; there were blackouts in parts of Central Java

Central Java

Central Java is a province of Indonesia. The administrative capital is Semarang. It is one of six provinces on the island of Java.This province is the province of high Human Development in Indonesia and its Points Development Index countries is equivalent to Lebanon. The province of Central Java...

, along with parts of both West Java

West Java

West Java , with a population of over 43 million, is the most populous and most densely populated province of Indonesia. Located on the island of Java, it is slightly smaller in area than densely populated Taiwan, but with nearly double the population...

 and East Java

East Java

East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and islands to its east and to its north East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and...

.

Effects

Due to the sudden supply shortfall, power went out in most areas of Java, including all parts of the capital and largest city in Indonesia, Jakarta. Other major cities in Java, such as Surabaya

Surabaya

Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...

, were also affected.

Restoration of service

Power resumed in most areas of Jakarta at about 5:00 PM (UTC+7) on the same day.

Post-blackout

PLN apologised for the incident and said about 293,235 customers will be compensated. Meanwhile, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono AC , is an Indonesian politician and retired Army general officer who has been President of Indonesia since 2004....

ordered police and the national intelligence agency to assist PLN to trace the cause of the blackouts.