What to Do During a Power Failure in Singapore

When the lights go out, the first decision is whether the problem is in your unit, in the building, or in the supply network. Each one has a different next step, and acting on the wrong assumption wastes time.

Five-second checks

• Look out the window — are the neighbours' lights on? If no, the area is out, sit tight.
• Check the corridor lights (HDB) or the common-area lights (condo) — if those are on, the issue is inside your unit.
• Open the DB door — is the main isolator off, or is a single MCB / RCBO down?
• If only one circuit is down, the rest of the unit will still work — isolate that circuit and call an electrician
• If the whole unit is dead and the rest of the building has power, the supply incomer or main isolator is the place to look

What not to do during a blackout

• Do not open the fridge / freezer repeatedly — they hold temperature for hours if left closed
• Do not light candles near curtains, paperwork or anything flammable — LED torches are safer
• Do not try to "force" an MCB closed if it has tripped — the breaker is telling you about a fault
• Do not run portable generators indoors or on balconies — carbon monoxide buildup
• Do not start touching loose-looking wires or opening accessories — wait for the electrician

When the supply comes back

After an area-wide return, expect a brief spike-and-settle. Switch off sensitive electronics (computers, audio, anything with a transformer) before restoration if you can; turn them back on a few minutes after the supply has stabilised. Inspect the freezer; if it has been off for more than four hours, treat the contents with caution.