With power outage still an issue for many in the flood zone, Essential Energy says that approximately 90 Essential Energy personnel will be arriving across the impacted area today and tomorrow, to assist their 300 plus local teams on the ground with power repairs and restoration.
Teams from Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah, Ewingsdale, Ballina, Lismore, Casino, Maclean and Grafton have restored power to more than 37,500 customers since Monday, but a lot of work remains to get the power back on for the remaining 13,500 customers.
A spokesperson said that despite the use of helicopters, drones and specialised fleet equipment, access remains the biggest challenge. ‘Planning is taking place to understand when we can make repairs, especially in those rural areas, to provide customers with a more accurate timeframe.’
‘Across Lismore, Murwillumbah and the smaller towns impacted by floods, crews are disconnecting power to properties that have been inundated with water. Once this imperative safety step is complete, we will be able to get the power back on to customers who have been without electricity and not flood-impacted.
‘Any customers whose property is disconnected will need to arrange for a qualified electrician to visually inspect and test their electrical installation supply and for an Authorised Service Provider (ASP) or Essential Energy to reconnect their power.’
Information on this process is available on Essential Energy’s website essentialenergy.com.au/our-network/floods, at evacuation hubs and Essential Energy team members will be available at evacuation centres to assist and answer questions from tomorrow.
Electrical safety remains key as the clean-up continues for some and starts in other areas downstream. Stay at least 8 metres away from fallen powerlines and 150 meters from lines in water. Always treat every powerline as live and call us on 13 20 80 to report lines that are down.
As of 11am today, just over 13,500 customers were without power.
Tweed Valley/Byron Region
Access to Byrill Creek is still limited. Essential Energy hopes to have power back on for customers on Monday, 7 March. It is also hoped to have the power back on for customers in Burringbar on Sunday, 6 March.
Weather permitting power will be restored to customers in Tumbulgum tomorrow. Ballina crews continue to work in the CBD and will then move to Ballina West and Ballina West CBD, while also monitoring flood levels across the city with expected over coming days.
Vegetation teams are assisting local crews in Wilsons Creek/Huonbrook and surrounding areas to remove trees tangled in lines, allowing field teams to concentrate their efforts on repairs. Across the Tweed teams are focussing on repairs in Duranbah and Chinderah to get the power back on for customers. Community spirit remains high across these areas.
In Murwillumbah, the Stone and Wood Brewery had their team of electricians on the streets assisting customers through checking properties, replacing power points and completing certificates to get the power back on – all free of charge.
Customers remaining without power include:
- Murwillumbah 34
- Tweed Heads – 358
- Main Arm – 44
- Huonbrook – 88
- Ewingsdale – 201
- Upper Crystal Creek – 3
- Byrill Creek – 35
- Burringbah – 6
- Tumbulgum – 35
- Pottsville – 59
- Duranbah – 222
Northern Rivers
Crews continue to work on gaining access to the rural electricity network with small numbers of customers likely to get their power back on late today. Work continues across Lismore to isolate and disconnect flood inundated houses form the electricity network to allow the re-energisation of power for those not impacted by floods.
Unfortunately, safe access to Woodburn, Broadwater and surrounding areas is not expected for several days. With power to be off for customers across this area for possibly a week.
Customers remaining without power include:
- Lismore -6,444
- Ballina – 2,346
- Woodburn – 2,058
- Alstonville – 422
- Jiggi – 26
- Dunoon/Mt Nardi – 77
- Lagoon Grass – 177
- Kyogle – 300
- The Channon – 82
- Rileys Hill – 76
- Casino – 2
Clarence Valley
Essential Energy crews continue to make repairs where access is available. 93 customers remain without power in the Brushgrove area with access still not available. Essential Energy is working with the Emergency Operations Centre to confirm when access is safe to finalise repairs.
Repairs are continuing on the network that feeds power to Jackadgery, however access is limiting the ability to finalise repairs. Essential Energy hopes to be able to get in there today, but this is dependent on water levels dropping.
Powerlines are down in Nortons Lane where 9 customers remain without power – Eseential Energy doesn’t expect to have access into this area until over the weekend.
Seven customers are without power at Deep Creek, again access is not expected for another two days.
Updates will continue to be provided for customers through the Essential Energy website and Facebook, and customers can call us on 13 20 80 with questions or queries.
The next update will be shared this evening, Friday, 4 March 2022.
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