Generator Failure Causes Prolonged Power Outages in Far West NSW
Authorities will implement planned outages to maintain the generator’s performance.
Residents in the far west of New South Wales (NSW) are preparing for extended power outages following a critical generator failure, which occurred after severe weather took down crucial transmission towers in the area.
The outage is expected to last until late evening on Oct. 22.
Starting at 5 p.m. on Oct 21, the outage has left Broken Hill and surrounding properties without electricity, causing significant disruptions to daily life.
Meanwhile, the NSW government has announced a planned outage on Oct. 23 during the same hours.
Six schools in the region have been closed, and residents are being urged to minimize power usage.
Marie Jordan, Transgrid’s executive general manager, explained that the generator powering the region overheated and shut down.
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“We had expected to begin repairs last night, but the heat and carbon monoxide inside the generator prevented us from even inspecting it,” Jordan told ABC Broken Hill.
With only one operational generator left to power Broken Hill after the other malfunctioned, additional generators are on the way to provide power to the region.
The NSW government has announced a series of planned outages to allow for essential maintenance of the backup generator. The first outage is scheduled for tonight, cutting power from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Australian Central Daylight Time (ACDT).
Residents in affected areas are advised to provide their mobile phone numbers to electricity retailers for outage updates via text messages.
Efforts are underway to construct temporary towers to replace the damaged ones, but completion could take weeks.
Meanwhile, residents and businesses are urged to reduce electricity consumption between 5:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. every evening to ease strain on the generator.
Despite the challenges, community efforts to reduce power consumption have helped maintain electricity supply for the region during peak periods, with additional generators being installed to strengthen power supply.
The NSW government is coordinating emergency response efforts with various agencies, including Transgrid and Essential Energy, to resolve the crisis. Travellers should avoid affected areas unless necessary.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed about power restoration efforts and take precautions during scheduled outages.
