STELCO to charge contractors full repair costs for negligent damage to power cables

State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) has announced stricter measures against contractors and other parties responsible for damaging underground electricity cables, following an increase in power outages linked to excavation work.
Under the new measure, parties found to have damaged STELCO’s underground network through negligence will be required to cover the full cost of repairing the damage and restoring electricity.
In a statement issued on social media, STELCO said incidents involving underground cables being struck during road excavation and construction work have become increasingly frequent, resulting in avoidable disruptions to electricity services.
The company said such incidents can cause significant inconvenience to households, businesses and other electricity users, while requiring emergency repair teams to locate the damaged section of the network and carry out restoration work.
STELCO said each incident will be investigated to determine how the damage occurred. If the investigation establishes that the party carrying out the excavation failed to exercise appropriate care or was otherwise negligent, the company will recover the entire cost associated with repairing the cable and restoring the affected network.
The utility provider said the measure is intended to increase accountability among contractors while protecting customers from preventable power interruptions.
The announcement follows several recent incidents in which underground electricity infrastructure has been damaged during construction and excavation work.
Earlier this week, a high-voltage cable on Kuredhimaa Hingun in Hulhumalé Phase 1 was damaged by a private party carrying out excavation for a construction project, resulting in a power outage in parts of the area.
STELCO said another similar incident had occurred just days earlier, also disrupting electricity services in parts of Hulhumalé Phase 1.
Following the incidents, the company urged contractors, developers and other parties carrying out excavation to properly plan their work and identify underground electricity infrastructure before beginning operations.
Underground cable damage can be particularly disruptive because repair teams must first identify the exact location and extent of the fault before damaged sections can be accessed and repaired. Depending on the severity and location of the damage, restoration can take considerable time.
The issue is particularly relevant in densely developed areas such as Malé and Hulhumalé, where electricity cables and other utility infrastructure run beneath roads and areas undergoing frequent construction.
STELCO has repeatedly called for greater coordination and caution when excavation is carried out around its distribution network, warning that damage to high-voltage infrastructure can affect electricity supply across a wider area rather than only the immediate construction site.
The company said contractors must exercise greater responsibility when undertaking roadworks and other excavation activities to avoid damaging the power grid.
STELCO said holding negligent parties financially responsible for repairs is intended to discourage careless excavation while supporting reliable and sustainable electricity services for the public.