Restoring power as floodwaters recede along the River Murray
Restoring electricity supply to properties along the River Murray will take significant time and vary depending on how quickly floodwaters recede and assessment of conditions and circumstances at a local, business and household level.
“We are working with the SA Government on the priorities and approach to recovery, but the reality is our work to restore electricity supply is likely to slowly ramp up as floodwaters finally recede and it will continue potentially for several months,” said Head of Corporate Affairs Paul Roberts.
About 90% of the 3,300 customers (a mix of homes, holiday shacks, pump sheds, and businesses etc) that have been disconnected were due to direct inundation, while the balance related to unsafe clearances between powerlines and the floodwaters.
“When you consider the number of properties along the length of the river and the fact we had more than 400 kilometres of powerline and about 4,000 Stobie poles standing in floodwaters, it is a massive task to visit every site affected, assess the damage, make repairs to powerlines and then reconnect supply where properties can safely be reconnected,” Mr Roberts said.
“But before we can do that, in most areas we will have to wait for waters to recede, flood plains to dry, roads to be made safe or repaired, flood-related debris to be cleared and access is allowed by emergency services and that we then have confirmed it is safe for our people to undertake work.”
Mr Roberts said the initial focus would be restoring power to the main powerlines supplying flooded areas followed by connection of properties to street supply as they are confirmed or made safe.
“We will do this in co-ordination with the Government’s recovery effort.”
Mr Roberts said safety remains an issue.
“We are very conscious of the ongoing risk to public safety posed by electricity network infrastructure that is or has been standing in water. We also are very conscious of the risk posed for property owners due to damage to their internal electrical circuits.”
If the property has been damaged/inundated the owner will need to contact an electrician to obtain a certificate of compliance and contact their retailer to raise a service request so that SA Power Networks can then reconnect electricity supply. Right now, if they haven’t already done so, customers should:
- Keep up to date with SASES alerts and warnings at www.ses.sa.gov.au/incidents-and-warnings/current-warning-list
- Visit sa.gov.au/floods for latest information, including registering for a clean-up/structural assessment
- Register for SA Power Networks’ free SMS/email notification service
Upcoming River Murray Community Info Hubs (all 10am - 3pm)
To assist customers, SA Power Networks is continuing to offer community information hubs in towns along the river.
- Renmark: 31 January 2023 (one held 17 January) Location: Parklands next to Renmark Club, Murray Ave
- Loxton: 1 February (one held 18 January) Location: Loxton Library & Visitor Centre, 25A East Terrace
- Waikerie: 2 February (one held 19 January) Location: Waikerie Library & Visitor Centre, 1A Strangman Rd
- Morgan: 24 January, 7 February Location: Morgan Activity Centre, 7 Third St
- Mannum: 25 January, 8 February Location: Mannum Leisure Centre, 51 Adelaide Rd
- Murray Bridge: 30 January, 9 February Location: Diamond Park, West Terrace