ESSENTIAL Energy was able to restore power to 2000 customers across the Mid North Coast today, however severe weather and dangerous conditions have restricted crews' ability to access some areas and it is likely that many customers will remain without power through until later this week.
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More than 950 customers in Laurieton, and 1185 customers in Kempsey along with the Wingham CBD and surrounding areas had their power restored earlier today.
Rain has continued to fall throughout the impacted area, while strong winds brought down trees into lines in Port Macquarie and at Kempsey and South West Rocks. Flood waters have subsided in some areas allowing crews to gain access to patrol lines and start repairs, however water levels are starting to increase again due to water washing down river systems from higher ground.
Weather conditions, in particular the gusty winds, prevented helicopters being used to patrol lines throughout today. Essential Energy said it is hoped air patrols can resume in the morning.
Due to rising flood levels, landslides and boggy conditions, Essential Energy is unable to reach a number of locations where repairs are needed to the network. As a result, customers who remain without power this evening are not likely to have their electricity restored until later in the week, dependent on flood levels and ongoing weather conditions.
"We will be contacting customers, where possible, to confirm if they will be without power overnight. We also anticipate being able to provide estimated times for power restoration to customers from late tomorrow," community relations manager North Coast Raelene Myers said.
As of 4pm, 6879 customers are without power across the Mid North Coast.
This includes:
- Nambucca/Bellingen Shires - 106 customers affected
Crews have been able to restore power to some customers today however the power will remain off for 106 customers overnight. Due to a number of flooded creeks some customers won't have their power restored until later this week. Essential Energy will continue to monitor water levels to provide customers with estimated times for power restoration. Access remains unavailable in some parts of Bowraville, Eungai Creek, Warrell Creek and Macksville.
- Kempsey Shire - 169 customers affected
Power was restored to customers in Frederickton this morning and crews are working to restore power to 100 customers in South West Rocks this evening. Access to other areas impacted by outages is not yet available. This includes Dungay Creek, Woorumbee, Crescent Head, Kundabung and Mungay Creek.
- Port Macquarie Hastings - 3703 customers affected
A large number of customers remain without power across the Port Macquarie-Hastings area. Although flood waters have decreased in some areas, they haven't done so to a level that is safe for crews to gain access with equipment and heavy fleet. Power has been restored to parts of Port Macquarie and Laurieton today, but it is likely a number of customers across this area will be without power until later this week. It is hoped that conditions will ease tomorrow to allow the use of helicopters to patrol lines and to look at whether they can get teams safely into areas to start repairs.
Access to areas surrounding Wauchope including Beechwood, Bellangry, Hollisdale and Pappinbarra remains unavailable, along with parts of Comboyne, Kendall and Laurieton.
- Taree/Forster/Gloucester - 2901 customers affected
Crews are unable to gain access to several outlying areas across the Manning Valley including Lansdowne, Hannam Vale, Moorland, Mount George around to Killibakh, Tinonee, Coopernook, Middle Brother and surrounding areas.
Within the Forster area over 800 customers are without supply with access unavailable into Charlotte Bay, Coomba Park, Pacific Palms areas. Crews are aware of what repairs need to take place in these areas, and will access as soon as safe to do so.
Flood levels have risen throughout today at Gloucester preventing access for crews to Barrington and other surrounding areas to make repairs.
A further 348 customers are without power in the Bundabah/North Arm Cove areas, again access isn't yet available for crews.
Updates will be posted on Essential Energy's website at www.essentialenergy.com.au/outages-and-faults/power-outages as new information becomes available.
Essential Energy thanks customers for their support and patience during these trying times and would like to remind everyone to be extremely vigilant if venturing outside and stay at least eight metres away from fallen powerlines and other electricity network assets. Phone 132-080 to report any fallen powerlines.
