Plugging power points
THERE are many reasons why the power to your home might go out.
The three most common reasons for outages are weather- related outages caused by lightning, storms, high wind and extreme weather conditions; nonweather- related outages caused by cars hitting utility poles, equipment problems, construction activity and trees or animals contacting the power lines and; planned outages such as when PowerWater needs to make repairs or improve reliability to the power lines by making upgrades to equipment.
When faced with a power outage for any reason, PowerWater has three clear priorities: safe people, safe equipment and safe progressive restoration.
Unplanned electricity interruptions can last for less than a second or up to several hours.
If your power goes out PowerWater is likely to be already responding.
From time to time, a fault will cause a generator to activate its safety mechanism and ‘‘trip’’.
When this happens, PowerWater crews make extra power available from another generator so that power is restored quickly.
Safety standards require PowerWater to wait 15 minutes before attempting to re-energise a line.
If the outage is longer than 15 minutes, phone 1800 245 092 to report it.
PowerWater crews are rostered on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Once a crew is despatched, they patrol the powerlines to establish a cause and progressively restore power when it is safe.
Some powerlines located in in rural areas extend for several kilometres.
This means that patrolling and restoration may take some time. Why does the power drop out for a couple of seconds every now and then?
The power network is set up like your home electricity system.
That means that when something abnormal happens, the system ‘‘trips’’.
While at home the ‘‘trip’’ may be caused by an appliance.
In the power network the culprit is usually an animal, bird, tree branch or a palm frond falling on the powerlines.
When a problem is detected, the system automatic- ally disconnects power to the line, then restores it in a few seconds.
If the problem is resolved, the power stays on.
If the problem still exists, then the power goes off again and PowerWater crews head out to investigate. What are planned interruptions?
Planned interruptions happen within the network when PowerWater crews are doing maintenance, repairs or replacing/installing new parts.
Most of this work happens without any disruption to supply.
However, some of this work is highly dangerous and can only be achieved when the power is switched off.
When this is the case, the relevant part of the network is isolated and shut down while work is completed.
Every effort is made to inform customers when an interruption is planned.
Notices are distributed to letterboxes and the information is published in the NT News and posted on the website at powerwater.com.au/ works. PowerWater also provide updates on their Twitter feed @PowerWaterCorp.