The disruption resulted in many areas experiencing power failure from 3.17pm. Supply was however, restored in stages, beginning 3.40pm.
Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) managing director Abdul Razak Halim said among the areas hit were Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran, Penampang (West Coast), Lahad Datu, Semporna, Kunak (Pantai Timur), Kudat, Kota Belud, Kota Marudu (North Coast) and the Federal Territory of Labuan.
In a statement here, he said the blackout was unexpected and resulted in a loss of 90MW of electricity generation capacity from the Sabah state grid.
"SESB was forced to resort to emergency supply rationing to ensure stability in the grid system," he added. -- Bernama