Power outage in Singapore: what to do and how to keep essentials running

Power outages are rare in Singapore, but when one happens it is stressful: the Wi-Fi drops, the fridge goes quiet, and if you're in the office, work stops. Here is what to do in the first few minutes and how to keep the essentials running.

1. Is it just you, or the whole area?

Look out of the window or into the corridor. If your neighbours, the corridor lights and the lift lobby still have power, the problem is probably inside your unit: a circuit breaker or RCCB in your distribution (DB) box has tripped. See our guide on what to do when your power trips.

If the whole block, building or street is dark, it is an area outage. Report it and get updates from SP Group, whose 24-hour hotline is 1800 778 8888. SP Group and EMA also post restoration updates on their official social media channels. Only call 995 or 999 for life-threatening or medical emergencies.

2. Stay safe

• Use torches, not candles.
• If someone is stuck in an HDB lift, call the lift rescue number (EMSU) shown inside and outside the lift.
• Switch off appliances, especially aircon, heaters and computers, so a surge doesn't damage them when power returns. Leave one light on so you know when it's back.

3. Protect what matters

• Fridge and freezer: keep the doors shut. A closed fridge stays cold for a few hours.
• Phones: save your charge and keep power banks topped up.
• Work: save files, and move urgent calls to mobile data.

4. Keep essentials running with a battery

A portable battery (also called a portable power station) runs a router, laptops, phone chargers, a fridge, fans and LED lights silently and indoors. Unlike a genset, there are no fumes and no refuelling. Rough guide:

• Router, two laptops and phones for 8 hours: about 1 kWh.
• Add a fridge for 24 hours: about 1.5 kWh more.
• Add two standing fans for 8 hours: about 0.8 kWh more.

Use the power planner to work out the size you need, or browse batteries for outages and shutdowns.

5. For offices: make it part of your plan

EMA encourages organisations to identify their critical systems and arrange backup power as part of business continuity planning. A short list of what must stay on (network, a few workstations, security, a fridge for medication) makes it easy to size backup power before you need it. Our engineers can plan it for you.

Tip: selected models, including the EH-One+ and EcoFlow DELTA and RIVER units, work as a UPS. Leave them connected between the mains and your equipment and they take over automatically the moment the power cuts out. Lifts, fire systems and medical equipment still need a certified UPS.