SA Power Networks explains why it cut electricity to Port Lincoln but not lower Yorke Peninsula
Catastrophic fire conditions on Wednesday prompted SA Power Networks to cut power to Port Lincoln and other towns on lower Eyre Peninsula. But not to lower Yorke Peninsula.
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Power was disconnected to Port Lincoln and other towns on lower Eyre Peninsula during catastrophic fire conditions on Wednesday because of the region’s high-risk bushfire history.
But the electricity remained connected on Yorke Peninsula – where fires have destroyed homes and scorched thousands of hectares – because it is classified as a medium-risk area.
The Yorketown fire was caused by an electrical fault, reportedly at the town’s water tank.
The decision to cut power sparked complaints on social media and talkback radio from frustrated Eyre Peninsula residents.
SA Power Networks spokesman Paul Roberts told The Advertiser the distributor needed to consider several elements before deciding to disconnect electricity.
“We are monitoring wind speeds, fire danger index and wind gusts,” Mr Roberts said.
“We base our criteria on research we have done through the CSIRO on wind speeds and their impact on electricity infrastructure.
“(The CSIRO) are pretty clear on the 63km/h (wind speed) mark is when you really start to see issues emerging on a day like (Wednesday).”
Mr Roberts said any decision to disconnect power was made by the distributor after consultation with the Country Fire Service and authorities.
He said high bushfire-risk areas – lower Eyre Peninsula, Mid North and Mt Lofty Ranges – were more likely to have power cut on days of catastrophic fire danger.
“You have to confirm the conditions. We don’t turn it off at the first puff of wind,” he said.
“We need to see a pattern, we need to have some reports of other issues that might support the need to turn off (the power).
“Lower Eyre Peninsula is a high fire-risk area where as Yorke Peninsula is a medium bushfire-risk area.
“Port Lincoln has had some very serious fires, which pushes it up into our categorisation of it as a high bushfire-risk area.
“Our assessment of high and medium bushfire risk is based on detailed research we’ve conducted with the CSIRO and insurers based on experience.”
Mr Roberts said SA Power Networks was monitoring weather conditions for the next day up to seven days every day throughout the year.
He said planning for Wednesday’s catastrophic conditions started on Monday.
“Our emergency management team met on Monday. We have a team who meet to plan our response and what we will do in terms of resources,” Mr Roberts said.
“That team met again on Tuesday and we decided, for example, to cancel most of the planned work around the state that would have involved outages.
“We made the decision about standing down field resources so that they would be available later in the day as the day developed.
“We also established that we would have a disconnection order group in place on Wednesday and that group monitors the weather across the state with a specific focus on the high and medium bushfire-risk areas.
“That team is trained, experienced and has a detailed set of criteria on which to assess the need for disconnection.”
Mr Roberts said community safety – protecting lives and property – was SA Power Networks’ priority.
“It’s a very finely balanced decision based on numerous factors. It’s not an easy decision and we’re very conscious that turning off power means people will not have electricity,” he said.