Ergon sets clear restoration target as crews make progress

General Manager Field Delivery Chris Hooper, who is leading the cyclone response, said North Queenslanders should take comfort in the knowledge that hundreds of crews would be working around the clock over the long weekend to get the lights back on.

“We had 66,000 customers without power at the peak of the event across the impact zone and we hope to have a massive restoration effort almost done by Sunday night.

“It will be no mean feat given the scale of the disaster zone and damage sites, from Ingham to the Whitsunday region and west to Charters Towers.

“In Townsville alone, more than 50,000 customers lost power because of trees, branches and other wind-borne debris bringing down powerlines. More than 9,000 customers in the Burdekin also lost power as the cane-growing community copped it from Cyclone Kirrily.

“Today we have around 600 crews involved in the restoration effort, including locals who have lost power themselves and are out there working to get the power back on to their communities.

“We also have crews who have travelled from across the state to support another massive effort from our Ergon and Energex teams, after a string of natural disasters in quick succession,” Mr Hooper said.

Field crews have worked closely with the team in Ergon’s Network Control Centre to keep the community safe and set clear restoration targets, which are based on detailed damage assessments.

“We do not take any shortcuts when it comes to safety, especially when there are so many life-threatening faults in the wake of a cyclone.

“While we understand the wait can be frustrating for customers during a complex damage assessment and restoration process, we hope they appreciate that every decision we make is in the interests of keeping them safe.

“We have updated Ergon Energy’s Outage Finder with estimated fix times so customers can check their address and find out when their power will be back on.

“It will be a longer wait for some customers in outlying areas and we appreciate their patience. Anyone in these areas who is still cleaning up debris should stay well away from any fallen powerlines, which should be treated as live and deadly, and if you’re using a generator, ensure it is in a well-ventilated area outdoors,” Mr Hooper said.

After a string of natural disasters in the Sunshine State, including two cyclones and major floods in the north, Ergon is reminding people it pays to be prepared.

“Well before the cyclone hit, we were warning people to be prepared for a week or more without power, based on recent experience in Tropical Cyclone Jasper, and while we are hoping for a break in the severe weather it is always on the cards over summer,” Mr Hooper said.