Ergon crews ready to take on Tropical Cyclone Jasper

Ergon Energy Cairns Work Group Leader Justin Pitts wearing high-vis uniform and hard hat with arms folded (cyclone jasper)
Cairns Work Group Leader Justin Pitts at the local depot

With Tropical Cyclone Jasper due to cross the Queensland coastline today, Ergon Energy says its crews are well prepared to support impacted customers and communities.

“We have more than 500 field crews across Queensland available to support the restoration effort if required,” an Ergon spokesperson said.

Related article: Can burying powerlines protect storm-wracked electric grids? Not alwaysโ€ฆ

“People in potentially affected areas should be prepared for power outages and registered life support customers are encouraged to have contingency plans in place.

“Cyclones and flooding can cause major and widespread impacts on the electricity network and there may be times when we need to de-energise sections of the network at short notice for public safety and to reduce the risk of more significant damage.

“As winds pick up, tree branches and other flying debris have the potential to bring down powerlines. Any fallen powerlines should be treated as live and potentially deadly. Stay well away from them and report them to emergency services on 000 or call Ergon on 13 16 70.

“We cannot send crews out in cyclonic conditions, but the trucks are ready to roll when it is safe.

“While our crews are ready to respond as soon as it is safe to do so, weather conditions can impact the timeframes for damage assessment, repairs and restoration.

Related article: Ergon and Energex finishing upgrades to four substations

“Safety around the electricity network is our top priority.”

Ergon Energyโ€™s Outage Finder is a useful tool for information on outages and the text view will sort outages by council area, while general updates can be found on Ergon’s Tropical Cyclone Jasper page.

Previous articleMarinus Link calls on businesses to tender for civil works
Next articleNew wave of solar panels may lose their spark too soon