Power transmission towers topple at Cressy in storm

UP to 10 large power transmission towers have toppled in the wind this afternoon near Cressy west of Geelong, putting further pressure on the state’s energy supply and causing a grassfire.

SIX large power transmission towers have toppled in the wind this afternoon near Cressy west of Geelong, putting further pressure on the state’s energy supply and sparking a grassfire.

Victorians were asked to reduce their energy usage from 3-9pm today because of the fallen towers and other outages caused by the day’s high temperatures, strong winds, thunder and dust storms.

The dramas reduced the state’s electricity reserves, and took the interconnector between Victoria and South Australia out of operation, as well as interrupting supply to Portland’s aluminium smelter.

Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said transmission lines tripped in the hot weather, with energy company AusNet Services working to fix it.

“That hot weather, what it tends to do on days like this, it can have an impact on our energy systems and our power supply,” he told reporters on Friday.

“We are unable to share power between SA and Victoria.”

At 4.45pm the fallen powerlines sparked a grassfire that was still being fought at 7pm.

Six CFA appliances were battling the flames, and the Colac-Ballarat Rd at Hamilton Hwy and Colac-Ballarat Rd at Rokewood Rd were closed to traffic.

Cressy powerlines down. Picture: Nathan Scott

The Australian Energy Market Operator declared a ‘Lack of Reserve 2’ condition in Victoria from 3pm to 9pm because of the outages near Cressy that affected its Moorabool to Mortlake and Moorabool to Tarrone transmission lines.

“This has reduced reserves available in Victoria to 406 MW as we approach the peak demand period,” AEMO said in a statement.

“There are adequate reserve levels in South Australia, but tight in Victoria, and AEMO will provide a further update as we continue to monitor and manage the situation.”

AEMO said it was working with AusNet, owner of the transmission lines, to understand the extent of the problem and ascertain when power could be restored.

“AEMO is dispatching emergency reserves in Victoria, and reiterates the need for Victorians to reduce their energy usage where safe to do so until 9pm, to help minimise the potential for electricity supply disruptions this afternoon,” the statement said.

“Consumers can temporarily reduce their energy usage where it is safe and possible to do so, by avoiding running additional appliances, such as dishwashers and washing machines, setting air conditioners to 23-26 degrees, and temporarily switching off pool pumps.

“AEMO acknowledges that the health and wellbeing of consumers remains the highest priority, so please only conserve energy to the extent it is safe to do so. Click here for more energy saving tips.”

An AusNet spokeswoman said the storm event north of Colac resulted in six towers on the Moorabool to Mortlake and Moorabool to Tarrone transmission lines being knocked to the ground and a further two towers suffering extensive damage.

“This has resulted in a separation between Victoria and South Australia at the Heywood Interconnector and an interruption to supply to the Portland aluminium smelter,” she said.

“We have crews at the site making the area safe and assessing the extent of the damage.

“We will work to repair and reconstruct these lines as soon as possible, given the extent of the damage it will take some time.

“We have already accepted offers of help in this from Transgrid, Electranet and TasNetworks.”

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Emergency Services Minister and Bellarine MP Lisa Neville said hot weather also affected the Basslink electricity interconnector between Victoria and Tasmania.

“Today and over the next 24 hours is we are facing a number of extremes. We have fire, we have extreme storm conditions and we have extreme heat,” Ms Neville said.

Powercor said this evening it had almost 10,000 customers without electricity.

“Crews are working as safely and as quickly as possible to get power back on to homes and businesses,” it said.

“The hardest hit areas are in central Victoria, with Bendigo, Kyneton and Castlemaine areas all impacted by weather-related power outages at various stages of the day.”

“We want to remind people that if they do see a fallen powerline, they should stay well clear of it and report it immediately to us on 132 412.”

Originally published as Power transmission towers topple at Cressy in storm