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Weather blamed for Goolwa power cuts

08 Feb, 2012 11:30 PM
GOOLWA - About 2800 ETSA Utilities customers were affected by power outages in parts of Goolwa across the weekend because of rain-affected insulators.

Five power outages were recorded on Saturday, February 4 and Sunday, February 5, affecting people who lived in the eastern parts of Goolwa.

An ETSA spokesperson said the power company's staff brought in additional crews and asset inspectors on Monday, February 6 to make a pole top by pole top inspection of the High Voltage (HV) network to help find the causes of such repeat outages.

"We recognise that these repeat outages will have been very inconvenient and frustrating for customers and apologise to them," the spokesperson said.

"We have replaced four suspect insulators, two on Monday following the most recent outage, and also will replace a transformer.

"We have 77 kilometres of overhead line supplying these customers and yesterday specifically inspected 375 HV poles, with 1100 insulators, 50 transformers and other equipment."

The power supplier suspects the source of the problem has been insulators that have suffered some electrical or weather-related damage in recent months.

"The damage can be very difficult for crews to identify and the insulators often will keep operating until they are exposed to a change in weather conditions.

The area had some rain over the weekend and this is likely to have triggered the outages," the spokesperson said.

"We believe one of the insulators replaced (on Monday) may have been the source of the fault that caused the outages. Since its replacement the supply has not been interrupted, despite some follow up rain."

Member for Hammond Adrian Pederick has secured a meeting with ETSA CEO Rob Stobbe, network manager Doug Schmidt and customer relations manager Sue Filby on February 24 to discuss the problem.

"(Blaming the weather) it's just not good enough in this day and age," Mr Pederick said.

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Date: Newest first | Oldest first
ETSA, are aware of the problems the weather causes, and have known for some time, when? is ETSA going to do something about the problem, that other electric suppliers have solved years ago, it looks like they do not know how to run the business, and will demand a price increase.
Posted by Noel, 11/02/2012 11:38:01 AM, on Victor Harbor Times
we wouldn't have these issues if the victor council actually did their job and kept the infrastructure in high condition. victor is seriously getting worse and worse. the council needs to pull their head in, and care for ALL the residents, not just the old people. and when people get transferred to hospital due to sickness because etsa cut the power and left them stranded in 40 degree heat, are they gonna cover the costs of our hospital bills and / or funeral expenses? hahahaha what a joke this town has become.
Posted by ihatehumanity, 15/02/2012 9:24:51 AM, on Victor Harbor Times

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