An independent review is now underway into the operational response to the August 2024 extreme weather event that caused significant damage to the electricity distribution network state-wide, and particularly in the state's North and North-West.
At its peak, over 47,000 electricity customers were disconnected, with more than 200,000 supply restorations being undertaken.
Mr Rhys Edwards of RDME Consulting will lead the review.
Mr Edwards is an experienced and well-respected Tasmanian leader, having previously held the role of Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet for six years. Mr Edwards is also a Board Director of Aurora Energy and a Blue Economy Co-operative Research Centre.
Minister for Energy and Renewables, Nick Duigan, said the review was an important step in ensuring Tasmania was well-prepared to respond to future extreme weather events.
"I am pleased that Mr Edwards will lead this important task, and I am confident he will be able to draw on his strong background in governance, energy policy, and public administration," Minister Duigan said.
"This independent review will examine the operational responses of TasNetworks and how it ties into the Government's broader emergency management framework.
"It will focus on contingency planning, incident management, restoration of supply, and recovery support for affected households, businesses, and communities.
"Our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future is all about making our State the best place to live, work and raise a family. The review will help us to understand what worked well as well as identify areas for improvement, which will help build a more resilient system to support Tasmanians during extreme weather events."
There will be an opportunity for members of the community and stakeholders to provide input into the review, including written submissions, to ensure a wide range of perspectives and experiences are considered.
The findings and recommendations will be delivered by March 2025,
with the aim of strengthening Tasmania's resilience and response capability for future severe weather events.
The review will be made publicly available.
