Blackout in Bali: Power Outage Disrupts Tourist Hotspots

A major power outage in Bali on Friday 2 May temporarily disrupted life across the popular Indonesian holiday island, with effects felt by both residents and the thousands of tourists currently visiting.

The blackout began around 4:00 PM local time and was caused by a fault in the undersea cables supplying power from Java to Bali, according to Indonesian electricity provider PLN (Perusahaan Listrik Negara). The outage affected much of the island, including key tourism zones like Kuta, Seminyak, Ubud and Nusa Dua.

While the blackout caused significant temporary disruptions—including loss of power in hotels, restaurants, retail outlets and traffic lights—backup generators helped many businesses stay open. Ngurah Rai International Airport remained operational throughout, with emergency power systems ensuring flights were not cancelled, although minor delays and longer check-in times were reported.

Tourists reported intermittent mobile and internet access and were advised to carry cash as some electronic payment systems were offline. Most hotels prioritised restoring electricity and maintaining guest comfort, with many properties successfully switching to backup systems within minutes.

Power was gradually restored overnight, and by early Saturday morning, the vast majority of the island was reconnected. PLN confirmed that full supply had returned by sunrise on 3 May. Authorities are now investigating the fault and reviewing infrastructure safeguards to prevent future incidents.

While the incident caused short-term inconvenience, it had little lasting impact on tourism operations. Bali’s vibrant hospitality sector responded quickly to minimise disruption, and travellers have largely continued with their holiday plans.

Tourism operators are reminding travellers that while unexpected infrastructure issues can occasionally occur, Bali remains a safe and welcoming destination—and contingency systems are in place to deal with emergencies.