Essential Energy crews responded quickly when severe storms worked their way across parts of the state over recent days, resulting in unplanned power outages for around 1000 customers across Boggabri, Mullaley, Gunnedah and surrounding areas on Friday evening.
The outage followed a further 3800 customers in Manilla, Barraba, Moree, Inverell, Yetman, North Star and surrounding areas being without power after storms on Thursday.
Electricity network protection equipment operated in each case, isolating power supply to keep communities safe until crews could investigate.
Crews were dispatched immediately and commenced patrolling the network in difficult weather conditions to assess damage to the power network. A patrol of the network was required due to total fire bans at the time.
The severe weather brought down power poles and pole crossarms and caused damage to other electricity network components, leaving around 500 customers without power overnight Friday night.
A helicopter was brought in to help patrol the network on Saturday, to identify areas of network damage.
Crews worked to replace seven power poles and more than a dozen pole crossarms on Saturday, and by Saturday evening, the number of customers still without power had been reduced to around 40 customers, and they remained without power again last night (Saturday, 28 December 2024).
Work continues today (Sunday, 29 December 2024) to remove powerlines from trees along Grain Valley Road, and to replace damaged powerlines. We expect to restore power for all remaining customers by late this afternoon, subject to no further damage being found.
Essential Energy advises customers who remain without power after 4pm today (Sunday), to please call our 24-hour outages line on 13 20 80.
Customers can view outage information and updates, as well as outage tips, on Essential Energy’s website at essentialenergy.com.au/outages.
Essential Energy thanked the community for its patience while our teams were restoring the network and reminds customers to immediately report fallen powerlines, network damage, fires or trees contacting powerlines to Essential Energy on 13 20 80 or call Triple-0 if the situation is life threatening.
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