Update issued by the Public Information Functional Area Co-Ordinator
Multiple agencies are continuing to work together to assist people in NSW's Far West after a severe storm last week knocked out power to an estimated 10,600 customers.
Seven transmission towers near Broken Hill were destroyed by the storm which struck in the early hours of Thursday (17 October 2024). The area impacted includes Broken Hill, Tibooburra, Wilcannia, Menindee, White Cliffs, Silverton and surrounding communities.
The NSW Government immediately activated an emergency response and coordinated assistance under the NSW State Energy and Utility Services Functional Area Supporting Plan (EUSPLAN), across several emergency services and government agencies as well as electricity network companies.
Since then, the Energy and Utility Services Functional Area (EUSFA) team has been working with Essential Energy and Transgrid with power now restored to all customers in the Far West.
An Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has been established for the area to coordinate resources to ensure on-going services are provided to the local communities, including bringing generators into the area to provide power to the region until the temporary transmission towers can be constructed and the main transmission line is re-energised.
The EOC comprises governmental and non-governmental agencies including the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, NSW Police Force, NSW Health, Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Ambulance, the State Emergency Service (SES), Rural Fire Service (RFS), Transport NSW, and Essential Energy.
By 6.30pm on Friday (19 October 2024), power was restored to the network after the 66kV lines between Mt Gipps and Sunset Strip was checked for faults and were brought back online.
Multiple smaller generators have been installed by agencies including SES and RFS, at core sites including local schools and TAFEs, while Essential Energy have many smaller emergency generators which will be used to support individual customers where there are known issues or risks (for example septic systems).
Essential Energy has also sent larger generators to Pinnacle Point substation to provide back-up power for the towns of Tibooburra, Menindee, White Cliffs and Wilcannia should the gas turbine generator fail. This will be online in the evening of Tuesday 22 October.
Region Operations Controller (REOCON), Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland, said while the emergency power supply arrangements are currently working extremely well, there are two areas local people need to be aware of as agencies work to restore the transmission lines.
"Peak power usage is between 5:30pm and 10:30pm (Australian Central Daylight Time), and we need people conserve power during those hours as much as possible.
"At some times, load shedding will result in intermittent power supply outages due to the need to reduce the load on generators, as power needs to be shared across the locations. This may occur at peak times and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has tips online," he said.
REOCON Holland said people in the impacted communities also need to be aware and prepare for the fact that generators will be switched off for several hours roughly every three days for essential maintenance.
"The first scheduled maintenance session will occur at 11pm tonight (Sunday 20 October 2024), with power out until 5am tomorrow (Monday 21 October 2024)," REOCON Holland said.
"A second scheduled maintenance power outage will be 11pm Wednesday (23 October 2024) to 5am Thursday (24 October 2024).
"People in impacted communities should plan ahead as they will be without power during those hours.
"It is essential that people have their mobile phones fully charged BEFORE the power goes off. We would also recommend people have battery-powered torches, drinking water stored, and a battery-powered radio, and that these, too, are charged before the scheduled outage.
INFORMATION CHECKLIST
DEPARTMENT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT & WATER
Power has been restored to all customers in the Far West, however a power outage to allow for essential maintenance is scheduled from 2300 Sunday to 0500 ACDT Monday
These six-hour maintenance outages will repeat every three days, the next scheduled for Wednesday from 2300 to 0500 ACDT Thursday
For other unexpected outages, please report to Essential Energy on 13 20 80
To save energy between 1730 and 2230 ACDT each day, please
• Turn off any non-essential appliances, only use
• Use lights only in occupied rooms.
• If you are using air conditioning, consider raising the set point temperature to about 26 degrees and close all blinds, windows and doors.
For updates and energy-saving tips: https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/
ELECTRICITY SUPPLY
Households and businesses in the Far West region are encouraged to provide their mobile phone number to their electricity retailer (the company that sends their electricity bill). This will enable Essential Energy to send text message updates about power outages.
Customers still experiencing outages should call Essential Energy on 13 20 80.
NSW EDUCATION
The Department of Education advises all sites will be operational Monday, with HSC and special needs students being prioritised.
NSW HEALTH
NSW Health advises there is no impact on services at Broken Hill Base Hospital, and no impact on patient services at Menindee Health Service. Business continuity plans have been activated to address communications issues. Essential Energy is prioritising life support customers.
NSW AMBULANCE
There have been no identified impacts to assets or operations, and no identified increase in Triple Zero (000) calls in affected areas.
NSW SES
Local SES members have been providing vital assistance to the Local and Regional Emergency Management Committees. Local units remain operational. Call 132 500 if you need assistance.
NSW RFS
Local RFS members have been providing vital support to the community via the Local and Regional Emergency Management Committees. Local units remain operational. In an emergency call Triple Zero (000), otherwise the Bush Fire Information Line is 1800 679 737.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
No carriers are reporting impacts at this stage. The NSW Telecommunications Services Functional Area (TELCOFA) is working with carriers and EUSFA to ensure that critical telecommunications infrastructure is functional through mains or back-up power.
FIRE AND RESCUE NSW
There has been no disruption to services. Call Triple Zero (000) in an emergency.
TRANSPORT NSW
Transport-related impacts are reported to be minimal.
VISTORS
Intending travellers to the Far West of NSW are being asked to avoid the area.
EUSPLAN explanation: The NSW State Energy and Utility Services Functional Area Supporting Plan (EUSPLAN) is part of the overarching State Emergency Management Plan (EMPLAN) to coordinate the management of disruptions to energy and utility supply within New South Wales.
