Batout! Adelaide’s exploding flying fox numbers impact power network

An explosion in the number of flying foxes is wreaking havoc on South Australia’s power network, with the endangered species on track to set a record number of batout... sorry, blackouts.

A rapidly growing population of flying foxes is causing a record number of power outages across South Australia despite millions of dollars being invested in the state’s energy network.

SA Power Networks said more than 90 outages have been attributed to the exploding Grey-Headed Flying Fox, or fruit bat, that is spreading across Adelaide.

The outages, which last from seconds to a couple of hours, have impacted more than 80,000 customers since late January.

The number of outages is already on par with 2023, with more than a month to go until the known busy period for bat-related power disruptions ends.

The frequent outages are impacting businesses and residents woken by appliances sounding when supplies are reconnected.

SA Power Networks head of corporate affairs Paul Roberts said the colony had “grown dramatically” to about 46,000 that had moved from the eastern states.

The flying fox colony is ‘increasing rapidly’ which is causing havoc on the state’s power networks. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

“We’ve never had these here before, it has grown from a few animals to 46,000,” he said.

This year is expected to be the worst on record for bat-related interruptions as SA Power Networks spends “several million dollars” a year combating the problem.

Those measures include installing animal guards on poles in areas with repeated bat interruptions.

“We’re doing that where we’re getting repeat outages because of the bats, and we’re doing that now as business as usual,” Mr Roberts said.

“Any time we are doing work on the poles, they will put an animal guard up.

“It is not something that can be done overnight.”

There were 55 instances of sustained bat-related outages in 2023, which impacted 72,000 customers.

Mr Roberts said they were also increasing the amount of automation across the network that reduces the number of customers impacted during an outage.

“With these two strategies we have evidence of reducing the outages to bats ratio,” he said.

“The bat colony is increasing rapidly.”

SA Power Networks spends millions of dollars upgrading power poles in areas where there are repeated outages. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

A flying fox that struck a powerline and caught fire as it fell to the ground was identified as the cause of a grass fire that threatened a caravan park at Mitcham on February 20.

Mr Roberts said animal guards had been installed in the area to prevent further instances.

Clarence Gardens business owner and resident Daniel Smith said power outages were becoming more frequent in his area caused by flying foxes.

“Recently they do seem to be happening more frequently,” he said.

“It’s about once a week for this area, and previously there would only be one every three weeks or so.

“It’s quite disruptive.

“We can’t process sales without power, it takes out the internet so everything has to be reset, and obviously don’t have air conditioning.”

Bat-related outages typically occur in the morning when the young bats tire from foraging and land on the tops of electricity poles.

Mr Smith said the outages during the day disrupted his business which was facing the usual cost of living pressures, and as a resident in the area, was also impacted personally with alarm resets.

Mr Roberts said “several thousand” power poles had been fitted with animal guards, but warned there were “hundreds of thousands” left to be upgraded across the network.

“It’s a long-term process (that will) take decades,” he said.

The bats have been reported across the city and surrounding suburbs, to Adelaide Hills and the Barossa Valley area, with their numbers expected to continue increasing.