Rolling Blackouts on Nusa Penida: How Should You Prepare?

Yes. As of 29 October 2026, Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan are still prone to rolling power cuts of 1-3 hours in some areas, because the islands' power plant ran about 1.5 MW short of an 18.5 MW peak load. PLN, the state electricity company, aims to bring an extra 5 MW unit online in stages from mid-November 2026, so if you cross over in the next two or three weeks, expect the air conditioning, Wi-Fi and water pump to drop out now and then.

What actually happened

Bali Post (7 October 2026) reported a wide blackout on Tuesday 6 October caused by a fault in one of the backup generators at the Nusa Penida diesel plant, serious enough that the local police chief went to inspect the plant. On 27 October, Klungkung Regent I Made Satria visited the PLN office in Kutampi Kaler. According to Bali Tribune (28 October 2026), PLN Bali general manager Ajrun Karim apologised for rolling cuts lasting 1-3 hours and blamed damage to the main generating engines.

Short-term help has arrived as generators from Mandalika, Lombok, though the figures differ by source. Bali Tribune lists 2 x 800 kW and 2 x 300 kW, while NusaBali (29 October 2026) lists two 800 kVA units and two 400 kVA units, 2.4 MVA in total. NusaBali quotes PLN saying a 5 MW engine reaches the Kutampi plant in early November and starts running in stages mid-month. Bali Tribune adds a 4.5 MW solar plant on the same timeline, whereas NusaBali says the 4.5 MW solar plant at Suana is still being studied. Demand on the three islands grows about 12.28 percent a year, faster than on mainland Bali.

What it means for guests

• Small guesthouses feel it most. During a similar outage in October 2025, IDN Times recorded accommodation owners complaining about dead air conditioning, Wi-Fi dropping out and fridges failing. Big resorts usually run their own generators; homestays may not.
• Water can stop too. Many places use electric pumps. Ask whether the water tank lasts a few hours.
• Cards and QRIS may fail if the card terminal or the nearest mobile tower loses power. Carry enough cash, including for the Nusa Penida entry levy. The new ticket post at Kelingking Beach, opened on 23 October, uses three automatic ticket machines (detikBali), and those need electricity.
• Nights get darker. Roads to the west coast cliffs have few street lights already. When the power is off, roadside warungs go dark too, so avoid riding a scooter after sunset if you don't know the route.

What to prepare

• A fully charged power bank and a small torch. If you have an onward flight, check the cabin power bank limits first.
• When booking, ask in writing: is there a generator, and does the air conditioning run on it? A written reply tells you more than room photos.
• Medicine that must stay cold belongs in a property with a generator, or ask for a cool box.
• Download offline maps and save your fast boat e-ticket before crossing. Check the sea too: BMKG warned of waves of up to 4 metres on 27-30 October.

If your plans are flexible, staying in Sanur and doing Nusa Penida as a day trip also works; an AccessiaPass hotel voucher in Sanur gives you a fallback while the island's power is unstable.

Common questions

Should I cancel my Nusa Penida trip? There is no official advice to cancel. The cuts rotate for 1-3 hours in some areas; it is not a total blackout. Pick a place with a generator if you need air conditioning or steady power for work.

When will power be back to normal? PLN's target is the 5 MW engine running in stages by mid-November 2026. Until PLN announces the rolling cuts are over, assume the risk remains.

Is mainland Bali affected? No. This is a separate grid serving the three Nusa islands, supplied by the Kutampi diesel plant. Other general rules for visitors are on our Bali rules page.

Checked on 29 October 2026 against Bali Post, Bali Tribune, NusaBali, detikBali and IDN Times.