Power blackouts in the inner north blamed on high-density housing

OVERWHELMING electricity demand caused by “higher- density development and large airconditioning units” has been blamed for several blackouts in the inner-north during recent hot weather, with the Energy Minister saying this is not acceptable.

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OVERWHELMING demand for electricity caused by high-density housing and extreme hot weather has been blamed for “several” blackouts in Prospect.

SA Power Networks wrote to property owners on Prospect Rd, Pulsford Rd and Milner St this month blaming extreme heat and high demand as a “result of higher density development and recent installations of large airconditioning units” for “several power interruptions” in the past year.

This included blackouts on January 18 and 28, despite the State Government claiming at the time the state’s power system coped “extremely well” during the extreme heat

Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis said the blackouts were “not acceptable”.

The blackouts raise questions about the capacity of the power network to cope with increased demand amid a high-density housing boom in the inner north.

A total of 70 apartment projects have been approved on Prospect, Churchill and Main North roads since the State Government raised building heights on the corridors in 2013.

Workman hanging Optus Vision Pay TV overhead cable off power lines in Parramatta Road, Lidcombe, NSW. television stobie pole /Telecommunications /Stobie/poles

Customer services manager Paul Erwin said in the letter, the energy distributor has not met the “standard of service (it) expects to deliver” for customers in the inner north, as it pledged major power upgrades to improve reliability in time for next summer.

On January 17, ahead of the two forecast 40+C days, Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis said: “In terms of capacity, we’ll be fine. Turn on your airconditioners. It will be OK.”

But the letter reveals the power did go out in Prospect on January 18.

This blackout was followed by another power outage in Prospect on January 28, which SA Power Networks had attempted to avoid by transferring “several properties on to other parts of the network” to reduce load ahead of forecast extreme hot weather during the Australia Day long weekend.

The City understands the January 28 power outage was caused by a mechanical fault.

Mr Koutsantonis said his comments on January 17 related to whether SA had enough energy supply to meet demand during last month’s heatwave, which he said “of course we did”.

He said although localised power failures were unavoidable, “people would expect that power providers can manage demand, even at times of high heat”.

SA Power Networks spokesman Paul Roberts said existing transformers would be “up-rated” to deal with supply issues in the short-term.

Mr Roberts said SA Power Networks would then spend $200,000 to upgrade powerlines and install two new transformers in time for next summer.

Adelaide Liberal MP Rachel Sanderson, whose electoral office is on Prospect Rd, said the situation was “totally unacceptable”.

“Better co-ordination between the State Government, Prospect Council and SA Power Networks could have prevented the blackouts,” Ms Sanderson said.

Do you live in Prospect? Were you affected by the blackouts? Leave a comment below or contact reporter Dan Jervis-Bardy on [e-mail]