Tonight, all but 77 properties across the flood-hit region have power; mostly in rural pockets around Ingham where network damage remains inaccessible. It includes properties at Old Wharf Rd at Macknade, a couple at Cordelia, and a dozen customers at Upper Stone where we can’t safely get to tangled wires sagging over Stone River.

Power restoration is a cross-the-board effort, and Paluma's a prime example. Hundreds of hours of repairing the wiped-out high voltage line at Ollera Creek, trying to get access up the range, juggling logistics, liaising with the ADF and chopper contractors, and sheer hard, sweaty slog came down to a couple of clicks on a keyboard of our control room this afternoon. Paluma came back on. Shout-out to our teams in the control room, who have been putting in phenomenal efforts to keep the network safe and to switch around to restore supply, working in tandem with our crews in the field.

What's next

We’re not going anywhere. We’ll still be out in force:

• Restoring remaining customers as access opens up
• Reconnecting individual premises where flood damage to electrical wiring’s been rectified. Read out reconnection steps after severe weather.
• Investigating individual outages. If you don’t have power but your neighbours do, let us know: 13 22 96
• Ensuring the network’s safe. Report fallen wires or any damage ASAP to 13 16 70 or 000.

Operation Energise

Licenced electricians are volunteering their time and expertise to provide free electrical safety checks for community clubs, not-for-profits, pensioners and people without insurance. This volunteer sparkie army will be available around Ingham from tomorrow, February 12 until next Tuesday, February 18.  Call the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) on 0407 340 186 to register for an appointment.

And finally...

This will be the last of our several-times-daily disaster updates. Thank you for being so involved, respectful, and occasionally just the right amount of salty. And most of all, for your patience in incredibly difficult circumstances, for supporting our people, and for looking out for each other.

Ergon Energy crews have safely restored network supply to 84 properties at Paluma, where isolated residents have been without power for over a week.

Yesterday raging rapids over a road prevented crews from accessing critical equipment needed to isolate a section of network badly damaged by a landslide.

We had another shot today and the lights are now as bright as the smiles on the faces of the people at Paluma.

Thanks to the team in our control room and crews in the field who work in tandem to switch the power back on.

Heavy rain continues to disrupt power restoration with additional falls of up to 140mm since yesterday, some waterways rising again, and poor flying conditions.

There have also been secondary faults and weather impacts overnight which interrupted supply to customers we’d restored only hours earlier. Additional crews are on the ground today, with reinforcements en route from Bundaberg, Maryborough and Rockhampton.

And please lock up your dogs. One of our team was bitten by a roaming dog yesterday, and we’d hate to see restoration or reconnections slowed down due to the risk of attacks, whether in the street, or when entering yards for safety checks.

Today's plan of attack (weather and safe access dependent)

• Replace a transformer pole on Abergowrie Road which was damaged last night. We've had to interrupt power to more than 300 customers around Abergowrie, Hawkins Creek, Lannercost and Long Pocket. so we can tackle this big job safely throughout today.
• Finalise restoration to just under 80 customers on Ingham's northside
• Continue working with the ADF on options to get generators to Paluma
• Repair the secondary fault that affected 115 Cardwell Range, Bemerside, Rungoo and Ingham customers yesterday. The rising Seymour River is currently impacting crews’ ability to safely patrol – when water levels finally stabilise, we’ll be onto it.
• Reconnect individual premises where flood damage to electrical wiring’s been rectified. Read our restoration steps on our website.
• Pray for water levels to drop so we can access sections of the network we’ve been unable to safely reach, including around Cordelia, Macknade, Upper Stone and Helens Hill
• Keep dogs securely and visibly restrained. Read about safe entry on our website.
• Call us on 13 22 96 if you don’t have power, but you neighbours do
• Report fallen wires ASAP to 13 16 70 or 000.

Already today, we’ve gotten supply back at Macknade, Cardwell Range, Lucinda, Abergowrie, most of Ingham and Lannercost. And we’re not finished: over the next few hours, we expect the lights to be on at Helens Hill, courtesy of our Pegasus high-voltage injection unit.

Then there’s the heartbreakers: the customers we simply couldn’t restore today.

• Thanks to landslides and flooding. Paluma is still no-go by road – check out our earlier video from near Crystal Creek. Generation hasn’t been possible, either. The gensets needed are beasts: units weighing 17 tonnes, plus fuel pods, which would have to be flown in by a heavy-lift helicopter - we’re working on options with ADF support.
• Floodwaters have blocked us from being able to repair the networks supplying 50 customers at Cordelia, others at Macknade past Old Wharf Road, and a handful at Braemeadows.
• At Upper Stone, low-hanging wires are draped over Stone River in a spot we can’t get to for repairs, impacting restoration to around a dozen customers. And just now, more bad weather has hit a section of network supplying 115 customers at Cardwell Range, Bemerside, Rungoo and Ingham who we’d only restored today – we’ll be back re-working on that first thing tomorrow.

While we’re relieved that more than 99% of homes and businesses in the disaster zone are finally restored, we’re acutely conscious of the disappointment and frustration of those who aren’t.

There’s no restoration option that hasn’t been considered. We’ve tried by ground, sky and over water. We’ve used generation where it’s been feasible. We’ve pored over network configurations, searching for any way of safely supplying power through backfeeds and switching. Hundreds of Queensland’s most experienced and dedicated disaster response veterans have worked their PPE-clad backsides off for nearly two weeks, preparing, assessing and responding.

We’ll continue tackling these last and toughest challenges tomorrow. We know power is critical to recovery, and a return to some sense of normalcy, and we won’t ease up until it’s back for everyone.

• If you need repairs for flood damage before you can be reconnected, read our Getting reconnected after severe weather steps.
• Call us on 13 22 96 if you don’t have power, but you neighbours do
• Report fallen wires ASAP to 13 16 70 or 000

We're down to the last 1900 customers, from a total of 33,000 affected by power outages due to the monsoonal trough and flooding, and we're aiming to have the power back on to everyone, where safe to do so, by 10pm tonight, either through network supply or generation.

We've just landed at Hidden Valley and we're looking at whether we can get the network up and running for Paluma, or whether we'll need ADF support to airlift generators and fuel pods until we can wrap up repairs. Teams are also out in force in the streets in and around Ingham, as well as surrounding towns and working on rural feeders.

Homes with flood damage will need to be inspected by licenced electrical contractor before we can safely reconnect them to the network. More information on the reconnection process can be found on our website.

We're also hearing of people who have been patiently waiting without power for a day or so while their neighbours have the light back on. If this is you, please call us on 13 22 96 - there could be an individual fault just affecting your place, and we might not know about it if you don't tell us.

And keep watching for fallen wires, especially as water recedes – stay well clear and report them ASAP on 13 16 70 or 000.

Today, we went head-to-head with Mother Nature. She won.

Severe weather overnight brought down trees, put bamboo into powerlines, and disrupted power to customers we’d restored only hours earlier.

Our patrol choppers and transport planes were grounded for much of the day. Roads are flooded again to the north and east of Ingham, with southern access cut for the Ollera Creek bridge repair.

Many of our travelling restoration crews couldn’t get to the Ingham area today. (Why aren't they staying in Ingham? Because there's simply no room at the inn.)

Paluma – so close to being back on supply last night – has now been further delayed thanks to a huge landslide over our network and a road near Crystal Creek. We’re looking at generation options, but just getting this heavy gear to site is an ordeal.

Macknade is isolated again, with about 1m of water over the road. Fallen powerlines have been reported across Stone River in the Upper Stone area. And the weather forecast for the next few days is nothing to cheer about.

Yet, there have been bright spots. The lights are back on in nearly 700 more homes this evening. Greenvale finally has power, along with more of the remaining outer Ingham customers. We’ve had wins around Bambaroo and Lannercost, and laid the groundwork for Abergowrie’s restoration.

It’s not where we wanted to be – we were aiming to have power back tonight, wherever safe, right across the flood zone. We still had teams in the field this evening, and we’re moving heaven and earth to get to as many of the remaining 1900 customers back on supply tomorrow as possible tomorrow.

Thank you for your patience and resilience, for your kindness towards our teams and other responders, and for watching out for each other. It’s amazing to see. It's the very best of North Queensland.

Check Outage Finder for latest restoration estimates.
Report fallen powerlines to 13 16 70 or 000.

Ergon Energy crews have faced challenges at every turn today with overnight flooding and poor flying conditions reducing the number of boots on the ground.

Paluma / Mt Spec

A damage assessment team has been able to fly over some sections of the network that supplies Paluma today and they have located power poles and wires wiped out by a landslide.

Low cloud cover is preventing us from assessing damage across remaining network areas from Crystal Creek up to the township of Paluma.

We have also found trees down over powerlines on the 11,000-volt feeder line that supplies Paluma.

Crews will need to rebuild the damaged section of the network at a challenging site, so we are looking at the logistics of getting generators in to support the community while repairs are in progress.

Hinchinbrook Shire

We are making good progress at Lannercost, Bambaroo and Mutarnee, and working to restore as many customers as practically possible by tonight. Crews cannot access Macknade due to flooding.

While we will continue restoring power where it is safe to do so and crews can access sites, severe weather has significantly impacted the restoration target of 10pm tonight for some customers.

Restoration timeframes will be updated in Outage Finder based on weather conditions, safe access to sites, damage assessment and the extent of repairs required.

Ergon Energy crews are on the last leg of a marathon effort to restore power across the flood zone where it is safe to do so, but the weather is not on our side.

They are aiming to get the lights back on to more customers by tonight, weather and safe access permitting.

Further flooding has cut some local roads and the highway north of Ingham, which could delay progress.  

There are approximately 2,700 customers without power across north Queensland as a result of the tropical low, severe weather and flooding. A total of 30,300 customers have been restored (92%) from the total of 33,000 customers impacted during this protracted weather event.

We have around 150 crew members ready to support the restoration effort, but getting anyone into affected sites by road and air is challenging in the current weather conditions.

General Manager Field Delivery Chris Hooper said Ergon was grateful for the community’s patience and support in trying times.

“I think the community can see the devastation and most people are realistic in terms of the constraints we are facing to get the power back on.

“We have thrown everything we could at this restoration effort to get troops and equipment on the ground by air, barge, road and rail, but our restoration targets are being impacted by more severe weather.

"In a flood response, it can be one step forward, two steps back as weather, road and flying conditions deteriorate.

“In areas where it will take longer to restore network supply, like Helens Hill, we will be bringing in generation to support customers while repairs are in progress,” Mr Hooper said.

As part of the restoration process, our crews are doing door-to-door checks and, for the safety of occupants, will disconnect individual properties that have been inundated and leave an Electricity Defect Report (Form 3).

If you know there's likely damage, you don't need to wait for us to issue the defect report/Form 3

You can get your electrical contractor in ASAP to check, and remedy any electrical faults. If you take this proactive approach, ensure your electrical contractor follows these steps:

1. Completes a Certificate of Test (confirming repairs have been made & it's safe to reconnect)
2. Leaves the completed form in your meter box
3. They call our Loss of Supply line on 13 22 96 to let us know you're good to go.

If you receive an Electricity Defect Report (Form 3)

You'll need to engage an electrical contractor to rectify faults. Make sure the electrical contractor follows these steps:

1. Signs off on the contractor section of the form
2. Leaves it in your meter box
3. They call our Loss of Supply line on 13 22 96
4. Without these steps, we won't know that you're safe to be reconnected.

Find a licenced electrical contractor online, or call Master Electricians Australia on 1300 889 198 or the National Electrical and Communications Association on 1300 361 099.

Read more on getting reconnected after severe weather on our website.

Tonight, the lights are on in another 700-odd homes in the worst-affected areas. And with Ingham substation back on this afternoon, now’s the toughest part of any response: the feeder-by-feeder, street-by-street restoration of network power.

We need to patrol every line for faults, & fix them so they can safely, reliably carry your electricity. Crews will go door-to-door in areas that were inundated, isolating properties which can’t be safely reconnected. And there are still powerlines on the deck and in receding floodwaters – those feeders can’t be resupplied until everything’s shipshape.

Which is why people in Hinchinbrook LGA, Paluma and the last pocket at Cardwell are going to be sick of the sight of our teams. Now that both of the new poles are in place, tomorrow we’ll be stringing powerlines with a helicopter at Ollera Creek, which will move Paluma and Mutarnee closer to resupply.

Less Top Gun but just as important are the generation teams that will be moving additional gensets to critical sites where network supply is going to take longer. And there’ll be connection teams, lineys, and underground crews, all focussed on one thing: getting the lights back on…safely. Always safely.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

When's MY power coming back on?

Fair question. We’re updating Outage Finder with estimated times based on what we know now; however these estimates are likely to be dynamic based on what further damage we find, how tricky the repair is, and access – there’s still a lot of water around. We can’t give updates on individual properties or localities on social media, but check Outage Finder regularly for the latest on your estimated restoration.

What if my place has been flooded?

If your place has been flooded or damaged, we can’t reconnect you until your property has been inspected and repaired by a licenced electrical contractor. This is the last thing many people want to hear, but it’s 100% for your safety. More information on our website.

My neighbours have power, but I don't

If your neighbours have power but you don't, call us on 13 22 96: we may not know unless you tell us, and it could be an individual fault only affecting your place.

Stay safe when cleaning up

Watch for fallen powerlines and report them to 13 16 70 or 000. If electrical appliances have been water damaged, get your electrical contractor to check that they’re still safe to use, or throw them. And if you’re putting stuff on the footpath for waste collection, please keep it clear of power poles, stays, and those little green pillars.

This is a massive step forward, but the job is not done yet.

Crews will still need to patrol all feeder lines for any faults, isolate customers where it is unsafe to -re-energise, and complete emergency repairs where necessary before power can be safely restored.

Aerial surveys, ground patrols and customer reports have identified fallen powerlines, including across waterways.  If you’re cleaning up, stay well away from fallen powerlines and report them to emergency services on 000.

With the temporary bridge over Ollera Creek open, we will now be able to get vehicles, equipment and people into Ingham by road to fast-track restoration.

We will also be able to transport additional generators by road instead of air or barge, as well as crews to connect them at critical sites where network supply cannot be restored quickly.

Crews are continuing to reconstruct the overhead network at Ollera Creek to get the power back on to Mutarnee and Paluma.

We are so grateful to the community for their support at a really challenging time.

This morning, 6778 customers across flood-ravaged Hinchinbrook LGA are off supply, and they’re the focus of our efforts. There’s more than 100 field staff from outside the impact area, supporting local crews on the ground, including 20 specialists on the job at Ingham substation. The sub is crucial – it’s a bulk supply point serving nearly 7000 homes and businesses. There’s also the broader network to assess, both overhead and underground, and we hope to wrap these inspections today, weather permitting.

Generation teams are in Lucinda where the barge has been a lifeline for supplies and crews, and we’re continuing to support generation more broadly at strategic sites identified by the Local Disaster Management Group.

And we’re still tackling other significant outages. We’re back in Cardwell this morning, and it’s standing room only around Ollera Creek where we’re working on erecting that huge second pole today, while not getting in the way of the ADF & TMR teams working on the bridge repair.

Moving around is still challenging. There’s still no road access from Ingham to Cardwell, Halifax or Lucinda; nor between Halifax and Macknade; or Lucinda and Halifax. We’re also getting twitchy watching the BOM: the potential for more heavy rain is the last thing anyone needs, and the low cloud affects chopper patrols and deliveries.

TODAY'S TOP QUESTIONS

Why aren't you working around the clock?

Because, safety. Post-flood assessment and restoration isn’t work that can be safely done in the dark – visibility is key, especially when we're having to fly crews in and out. Also, crocodiles – in this area, the mozzies aren’t the only things that bite.

I've had some water through my place - how do I get reconnected?

You’ll need to get the all-clear from an electrical contractor before we can safely reconnect you: Getting reconnected after severe weather. As part of the restoration process, our crews do door-to-door checks and disconnect individual properties that have been inundated for your safety. Tip: If you know your place has had damage, no need to wait until we come by with an Electricity Defect Form – you can get the ball rolling by engaging your licenced electrical contractor now. If you don’t have a trusted local sparkie, call Master Electricians Australia on 1300 889 198 or the National Electrical and Communications Association on 1300 361 099. They’ll make whatever safety repairs are needed, then lodge confirmation with us so we can reconnect you as soon as network supply is available.

I haven't had water or other damage - do I need to get a safety check?

If there’s been zero inundation or risk to your home’s wiring, switchboard, power points, etc, and it’s safe to reconnect you, you’ll have power back when the network’s reenergised.

200 customers restored. No big, easy wins, but individual properties and previously impossible-to-reach pockets – a lot of hard slog, but so worth it.

1 of the two plus-sized poles stood at Ollera Creek. Check out our photos below for an idea of how tricky this job has been, and the amazing range of kit and approaches that is rebuilding this backbone of the high-voltage network. Tomorrow, we’re tackling Pole 2, which is shaping up as even more complex than its twin.

100: that’s how many people in yellow & grey PPE you’ll see on the ground around Ingham, Lucinda and surrounding areas tomorrow. And this doesn’t include the behind-the-scenes army organising transport, choppers, barges and fuel; restoration planning; coordinating with councils and agencies; testing transformers and other key equipment; engineering solutions to impossible problems; and keeping our teams and the community safe. We’re throwing the kitchen sink at getting your power restored, and we’ll keep at it until network supply is available to every last home.

13 16 70: whack this number in your phone, and call us ASAP if you spot fallen wires or any sort of electrical danger. Never assume we know about damage, nor that someone else has phoned it in. We’d rather get 50 calls about a fallen line than none. Call us. We’re friendly.

Tomorrow

• Our specialist substation teams have been working in the mud at Ingham substation inspecting and testing critical equipment, and they’ll be back at it tomorrow.
• We’ll be continuing damage assessments from the air, and increasingly on the ground, where we can get safe access. There’s already a mountain of work to do in rectifying inundated network equipment in and around Ingham, and more will come to light as the waters recede – we’re ready for it.
• Ergon, ADF and TMR teams will again be swarming around Ollera Creek. Army and Transport gurus are working on a temporary bridge; we’ll be getting that second huge pole into place on the northern side of the creek, as it’s key to getting power back to Paluma.
• There’s a damaged transformer we can’t reach near Cardwell, which is preventing total network restoration to the community, but we’ll try again tomorrow.
• And we’ll continue to support critical infrastructure via generators, at the direction of the disaster management group.

Thank you for your patience, everyone. No one’s more invested in getting the lights back on than your Ergon North Queensland teams, none of whom are strangers to natural disasters. Ingham, Lucinda, Halifax, Cardwell, Paluma, and all the little communities in between: We have your back.

There’s A LOT going on in the background as floodwaters recede in Ingham, but we really need the weather on our side:

• Floodwaters at the Ingham Substation are receding and we have a specialist crew from Townsville inspecting and testing critical equipment.
• Weather permitting, we will be doing further aerial surveys of the overhead network that supplies Ingham and surrounding areas.
• We are dispatching more generators by barge and air at the request of the LDMG, who will determine critical sites to be connected.
• Crews are rebuilding the backbone of the high-voltage network at Ollera Creek in challenging conditions.
• Townsville crews are hoping to be able to restore customers at Majors Creek by the end of the day now that we can get in by road.

THE GOOD NEWS: Cungulla's back on, Cardwell area is 95% restored, Giru's nearly wrapped up
THE GETTING-THERE: We should be able to get into Majors Creek tomorrow + nearly all Townsville customers are back on
THE HARDER YARDS: Paluma, Greenvale/Basalt/Bluewater Springs 
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Ingham

Ingham's water treatment plant will be running off our massive generator airlifted in by an ADF Chinook, and we have a barge and trucks heading to Lucinda. And we’ve made some headway at Ollera Creek.

Tomorrow

Airspace will be at a premium when we have up to eight choppers flying supplies and patrols. The Ingham region faces a long, tough road to recovery, and we’re ready to support network power restoration as soon as it’s possible to start this critical work.

Ollera Creek's proving a tough nut to crack: we need to stand two poles to replace the washed-away original. These are monster poles; more than 5 tonne apiece, and we need to get one either side of the still-flooded creek, then string long spans of powerlines between them. We were on site all day today, working on this problem and supporting TMR’s bridge-building efforts, and we’ll be back there in the morning – Paluma, we’ll find a solution.

And as long as we can reach the damage sites, we’ll be tackling Majors Creek's power tomorrow – you’ve been incredibly patient!

Flooding is still a major headache in some areas: it’s preventing us from ground patrols, we still can’t access sites north of Charters Towers, and we’re holding our breath that a second rise in the Burdekin River, predicted for the Inkerman Bridge tomorrow, doesn’t cut the Bruce Highway.

Stay safe

Now’s the time to double-down on safety. Use generators safely, report fallen powerlines, don’t operate appliance or switches in water or in bare feet. Read more on our website.

We’re doing our best in the air and on the (very wet) ground to pinpoint damage, plan our attack, and get the power on wherever we can. This morning, just over 8000 North Queensland homes and businesses are without power, 6800 of them around flood-ravaged Ingham. We’d started aerial patrols and damage assessments over Ingham early today when low cloud forced us to turn around – we’ll be back in the skies as soon as it’s safe.

Crews are on the ground around Giru and Cardwell this morning. Closer to Townsville, we’re troubleshooting in the Cungulla area where we can see wires down, but haven’t had access so far, as well as around Ollera which is affecting Paluma's power. Floodwaters tore through the Ollera bridge and creek banks like a dose of salts; washing away a power pole into floodwaters. We’re on site trying to replace the pole and wires, and we’ll also do all we can to support Transport Main Road's work to rebuild the washed-out bridge.

Further south, heavy rain around Mackay and Proserpine has caused localised flooding and cut the Bruce Highway; however we’re seeing some rays of hope on the Burdekin River’s Macrossan Bridge which is still underwater, but now visible: when it reopens, we’ll have access to Charters Towers again. And levels seem to have peaked around the Burdekin.

Power restoration process

Power restoration after flooding is a painstaking, meticulous process where every inundated component needs to be checked, cleaned and dried. People whose properties have been flooded will need to engage an electrical contractor to ensure their place is electrically safe before we can reconnect power. We know how important power is to recovery after a disaster, and we’ll have every available team supporting reconnections when the time comes. More information on the reconnection process is available on our website.

• Never use generators in enclosed spaces as carbon monoxide (exhaust) fumes can kill silently and quickly. Only run them outdoors.
• Never connect a generator to the house wiring unless the property has a professionally installed isolator/changeover switch. Without an isolator switch, a generator will feed power back out to the street electricity network and possibly shock or electrocute our crews or community members.
• Only use heavy duty extension cords connected directly to the generator.
• Don’t overload the capacity of the generator.

More on generator safety tips can be found on our website.

Palm Island, Balgal Beach/Rollingstone, Bluewater, Magnetic Island and Giru

Palm Island, Balgal Beach/Rollingstone and Bluewater are fully restored and all bar one customer has power at Magnetic Island. Most of those supplied by Giru substation are back on supply tonight, and we’ll again try to resolve damage impacting the remaining 57 tomorrow.

Cardwell

It’s been a big day at Cardwell, where flash flooding hit late last night, forcing us to switch off the substation for safety. We’ve just restored power to more than half the town; however we need to make further repairs tomorrow, and there are properties which can’t be safely reconnected due to flooded wiring.

Paluma, Greenvale/Mt Garnet

We still can’t get into Paluma, the Greenvale/Mt Garnet area and other pockets where bridges are still under metres of water and roads are a mess.

Power restoration after a natural disaster isn’t just about being able to get crews to site: we also need heavy equipment to stand poles and string powerlines, and we can’t airlift this in. Today’s wins have been in areas where roads reopened, or where we were could fly in crews and barge over heavy machinery. We’re continuing to watch the rain gauge and fluctuating flood levels in low-lying parts of Townsville and will restore network supply as soon as it’s safe to do so.

Ingham

Ingham is another story. It’s impossible to overstate the scale of the disaster in and around the town, which is still largely blanketed with floodwater. As soon as the water drops, we’ll begin assessing network damage, which will help us shape a restoration plan with timeframes. Getting Ingham back on supply, and back on its feet, will be a marathon, not a sprint. Our people will be there to help every step of the way.

𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥 + 𝗣𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗥𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗦: It’s alarming to see footage of people wading through floodwaters where there could be fallen powerlines or damaged underground cables, or buzzing around in tinnies close to the overhead network. Treat any powerline as live and deadly: stay well clear, and report damage to us ASAP on 000 or 13 16 70.

𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗦: If you’re using a generator, do it safely: outdoors and well-ventilated, and properly connected.

𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥: We’re updating Outage Finder based on when crews can get into sites, and what they’re seeing there. Flood-stricken areas won’t have estimates until water drops, and we know what we’re up against.

..𝗔𝗡𝗗, 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨: We know how tough a lot of people are doing it, and we so greatly appreciate your patience. A special thanks to those who have gone out of their way to give our teams a bit of love, encouragement, and offers of cold drinks and cuppas: it means the world.

It’s been an awful few days for thousands of North Queenslanders, and our teams are doing all they can to get our communities back on track, wherever possible. This morning, just shy of 11,000 people from Cardwell to the Burdekin are without power.

Ingham

Ingham is bearing the brunt of this disaster: there’s barely a square metre of ground that’s not under water, and the Herbert River has nudged the previous record height set nearly 60yrs ago. Along with the rest of the community, our substation remains swamped and there’s no way of beginning power restoration until water levels recede.

Cardwell, Giru and Townsville

Flash flooding forced us to switch off Cardwell substation last night for safety, affecting around 1000 customers, Giru substation is also offline, and we’re continuing to patrol and monitor low-lying areas around Townsville to keep everyone safe.

Heavy ongoing rain is predicted for the next day or so, however we’ve identified a number of outages where we hope to be able to get some wins for customers today, weather permitting:

• We’ve just landed on Palm Island! The island’s been in the dark for more than 24hrs due to a landslide that’s knocked out the high-voltage network, and there’s also a barge headed over
• We’re hoping to fly crews and equipment to damage sites affecting Balgal Beach and Rolingstone. This is a big “if”: there are trees down on a number of locations, and we need to be able to safely land, and with the necessary gear to tackle the jobs
• Things are looking promising for Maggie Island – extra resources are on their way right now to tackle multiple damage sites
• We’ll try to get into Giru substation, and will know more after we’ve been able to do a thorough assessment.

Access by road is very limited: the Bruce Highway is cut with flooding & washed-out bridges, the Macrossan Bridge over the Burdekin River at Dotswood is under metres of water, and dozens of other major and minor routes are impassable.

We’re also bracing to support customers as soon as flooding recedes. Out-of-town crews are ready to reinforce our local teams, some of whom have been hard hit by flooding. When the skies clear, we have choppers booked for aerial patrols and shifting kit to damage sites.  We’re also working closely with councils and emergency services to understand each community’s needs, and how we can help.

𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪

• If we haven’t mentioned your neighbourhood in this post, it doesn’t mean you’re forgotten – every single thing that can be done for every street and neighbourhood is being done. And while we’d love to respond to every query, we simply can’t provide updates on individual properties via social media.
• Until crews can get access to impacted areas, we won’t know restoration times. Soon as we can provide these, we’ll let you know via a restoration plan & we’ll update Outage Finder
• Generators are a godsend, but only if they’re used safely.
• Safety, safety, safety: watch for and report fallen powerlines, especially in water; watch for reduced clearances to overhead powerlines if you’re out on the water; and if flooding’s affecting your place and mains power is still on, call us ASAP: 13 16 70
• If your place has sustained inundation, you’ll need to get the all-clear from an electrical contractor before we can safely reconnect you.

Ingham

We were forced to turn off Ingham substation as floodwaters swamped the area. It’s some of the worst inundation we’ve seen in this beautiful community, and we won’t be able to provide realistic restoration estimates for the thousands of customers supplied by Ingham sub until the water drops and we see what we’re dealing with.

Around Townsville

We’ve had to cut power to some customers around Townsville for public safety, while others are due to damage and sites are cut off by floodwaters. So far, our crews have been able to localise these emergency outages rather than entire substations being impacted, but we’re continuing to monitor the flood threat very closely.

Palm Island

Appalling weather conditions dashed our hopes of landing a crew on Palm Island today to begin repairing damage from a landslide. We flew a team over but were unable to land despite several attempts, so we have a barge on standby to support restoration efforts tomorrow, weather permitting.

Charters Towers and Giru

We’re also ready to respond when it’s safe to power outages affecting several hundred customers in Charters Towers council area, and around Giru.

𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪

• With conditions continuing to change dramatically and quickly, we’re unable to provide advance warning of de-energisations for safety
• Until flood waters recede and our crews can get access to impacted areas, we won’t know restoration times. Soon as we can provide these, we’ll let you know & update Outage Finder
• If you’re evacuating or the power’s gone out, check that you’ve turned off ovens and hotplates. You don’t want these turning back on, possibly unsupervised, when power’s restored
• Safety, safety, safety: watch for and report fallen powerlines, especially in water; don’t use appliances or switches barefoot or on a wet surface, and if water’s affecting your place and mains power is still on, call us ASAP: 13 16 70
• Got a generator? Please use it safely.

It’s been a hell of a weekend, and it’s going to be a long night and tough days ahead. We’re here with you every step of the way – some of our own people and their families are affected by flooding and outages, and no one is more motivated to safely get your power back on than your local teams, and their mates from depots further afield who are ready to pitch in as soon as it’s safe to do so.

There may be instances where someone whose place doesn’t seem to be at risk from flooding loses power, or where one street has power but not the next. This usually comes down to which section of network supplies each home or street: one property may be supplied by a different section of network or substation to that which supplies the next street or even your neighbour. These networks can stretch for many miles, and resupply depends on whether the infrastructure supplying your place has been flood damaged, potentially a long way from your home.

Due to the extent of the flood threat and the need to move quickly to safeguard everyone, we unfortunately can’t give advance notice about de-energisation.

Outages will appear in Outage Finder, and when we’re able to reassess the situation and any damage, we’ll then be able to provide accurate restoration estimates

If your place is flooding and mains power is still connected, this is an emergency – call us ASAP on 13 16 70.

Thanks for your understanding – it’s all about keeping everyone safe during this incredibly difficult time.

Townsville radar at 1pm, Sunday 2 February

This is has interrupted power to 6700 customers from Lucinda to the Cardwell Range, and we won't have a restoration time until the flood threat has passed and we're able to assess the situation.

If you're a Life Support customer, reliant upon electrically powered medical equipment, you need to enact your Plan B now.

Flooding, landslides and falling trees have been impacting power in North Queensland where all eyes are on the coming flood peak. Some locations, including Mt Sophia, Clyde Rd and Paluma, have already clocked one METRE of rain in the past few days, with major flood levels in a number of key waterways and more rain on the way.

A landslide has impacted high-voltage powerlines at Palm Island. In the current conditions, we don’t have a restoration time as it requires specialised heavy equipment and crews, but we’ve been talking with council and will share info as it’s available. We’re seeing huge trees come down thanks to the sodden ground and increasing winds. We’ll respond when we can, but it depends on whether it’s safe and possible for crews to access these sites.

𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪

• Nothing’s more important than safety; for you and for our teams. We’re monitoring the network and if/when it’s necessary for public safety, we’ll de-energise ahead of inundation
• If your place is flooding and mains power is still connected, this is an emergency – call us ASAP on 13 16 70
• Floodwaters can hide powerlines or electrical infrastructure: stay out of the water and watch for submerged lines.
• Treat ANY fallen powerline as live and deadly: report any ASAP to 000 or 13 16 70, stay well clear, and warn others
• Never operate electrical appliances or switches barefoot or while standing in water
• Be prepared for power outages. If you rely on electrically powered medical devices, you need to be thinking about your Plan B, now.

Please keep an eye on warnings in your area, follow the directions of emergency services and stay safe.

We are closely monitoring the electricity network in areas at risk of flooding and will switch the power off if it is necessary for your safety and to protect the electrical equipment that supplies you.

• In an evolving emergency, we cannot give you any notice when we are de-energising for public safety or provide accurate restoration timeframes until crews can get in and assess any damage
• Wherever and whenever it is safe, crews will respond
• Beware of hidden hazards of wires down in floodwaters
• Floodwaters can also reduce powerline clearances, so you need to Look Up and Live if you’re using boats for rescues.

Please keep an eye on weather warnings in your area, follow the directions of emergency services and be prepared for power outages.

Crews working to restore customers impacted by outages at Alligator Creek and Rollingstone near Townsville are facing tougher conditions as the developing flood event worsens due to heavy rain.

Access to sites is limited, but they will do all they can to get as many customers back on before they need to leave those areas for their own safety.

Water and electricity are a deadly combo, so safety's the #1 priority.

• If there’s water getting into your home and mains power is still connected, this is an emergency: call us ASAP on 13 16 70
• Floodwaters can hide fallen powerlines or electrical infrastructure: stay out of the water and watch for submerged lines
• Treat ANY fallen powerline as live and deadly: report any ASAP to 000 or 13 16 70, stay well clear, and warn others
• Never operate appliances or switches barefoot or while standing in water
• Make sure you know your solar system shutdown procedure, but never attempt to turn it off if any components are waterlogged
• If you're taking the tinnie out, watch for overhead powerlines - clearances are reduced by elevated water levels.

Read more on severe weather safety. Please - stay safe!

Our crews are getting ready for the severe weather that’s heading towards North Queensland.

We are monitoring the tropical low currently located in the Coral Sea which is expected to produce damaging winds and having rainfall along the tropical east coast between Cairns and Proserpine.

Please follow the advice of emergency services. If you’re in the weather watch zone, please be prepared for potential extended outages. We have some advice on our website.