Make a plan and know what to do in a power outage this summer
Think about how many internet-enabled gadgets you rely on each day – would you know what to do if they suddenly stopped working?
With research suggesting households now use an average of 20 devices reliant on power and the internet, electricity distributor, United Energy is encouraging customers to think about what to do if extreme weather affects power supplies this summer.
“While extreme events can happen at any time of the year, it’s more likely in summer when storms, lightning, high winds and heat can lead to power outages,” United Energy’s Head of Customer Experience, Adam Nason, said.
“Power outages affect everyone differently. Cars being trapped in garages with an electric door is a common one we hear. Phones running out to charge and frustrations with trying to keep the kids entertained without a mobile device is another. Either way we know it can be incredibly inconvenient.
“We encourage everyone to make preparing for power outages part of any emergency plan.”
United Energy works year-round inspecting and maintaining the electricity network to keep it reliable. Each year, United Energy conducts a significant asset inspection program and uses a combination of helicopter and ground-based LiDAR inspections to monitor vegetation.
“We always prepare for major weather by mobilising additional crews and resources so we can respond quickly and minimise the time customers are without supply, this includes over the holiday period,” Adam said.
Over the past 12 months, United Energy has upgraded the local network, upgrading zone substations and expanding smart innovative equipment such as Early Fault Detectors on the Peninsula, which allow crews to find and repair defects before they become a fault.
“We do everything we can to keep electricity safe and reliable for all of our customers, which is especially important during the summer months when people rely on electricity more than ever.” Adam said.
“If there is an event causing an unplanned power outage, then we appreciate the cooperation of customers in alerting us to problems on our network.”
“The faster we can identify issues like trees on our power lines or cross arms or other infrastructure loose on poles, the faster we can respond.”
Simple steps customers can take to prepare for power outages include:
- Look after your health – particularly if you rely on life support equipment and need a back-up plan
- Stay connected – by having mobile phones and laptop computers charged to stay connected with family and friends
- Have back-up energy ready – like batteries, lamps and barbeques and have your eskies ready
- Stay up to date – visit our website to choose your preferences for getting notifications from Powercor about power supplies