KUWAIT CITY, September 6, 2026: A significant technical fault caused a power outage across multiple residential areas in the Hawally and Mubarak Al-Kabeer governorates on Sunday.
- A flashover occurred in a main transformer.
- Protective systems shut down the major substation.
- About 414 megawatts of electrical load were affected.
- Electricity supply has been fully restored to all areas.
According to the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, a flashover occurred in a main transformer, triggering protective systems to shut down the major substation as a precautionary measure.
This incident affected approximately 414 megawatts of electrical load and caused several connected 132-kV and 33-kV substations to go out of service. The power disruption impacted sections of Salwa, Rumaithiya, Al-Bidaa, Mishref, Bayan, Mubarak Al-Abdullah, and Sabah Al-Salem. Ministry spokesperson Fatima Jawhar Hayat explained that a flashover involves a high-voltage electrical discharge caused by the breakdown of insulation or the surrounding medium. To prevent grid damage, protective systems automatically isolated the fault.
Technical and emergency teams subsequently completed the isolation of the fault, inspected the affected substations, and performed a phased restoration of the load to prevent further stress on the network.
The Ministry has confirmed that electricity supply has been fully restored to all affected areas. Detailed inspections of the main transformer are ongoing to determine the root cause and implement necessary preventive measures. Residents experiencing localized power issues within specific buildings or properties are advised to contact the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy's official hotline at 152. Additional contact numbers for the Sabah Al-Salem Emergency Center are 25529803 or 25529813, and for the Salmiya Emergency Center, 25711130.
For immediate safety emergencies such as fires, smoke, sparking, or entrapment in lifts, residents should call Kuwait's unified emergency number, 112.