Endeavour Energy Flood Update 21 March 2021 – 12:30PM

Endeavour Energy is working with state and local emergency management authorities to keep people safe from rising flood waters along the Nepean, Hawkesbury, Colo and Parramatta Rivers.

This includes coordinating flood response with the SES, especially in parts of Pitt Town North, Cornwallis, North Richmond, Freemans Reach and Agnes Banks where evacuation orders have already been issued. Power has been cut to around 400 properties in these areas to keep customers and emergency service workers safe during the evacuation.

In addition, there is currently 2,000 homes and businesses without power due to storm damage in pockets of Western Sydney, the Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands.

As flood waters continuing to rise throughout today, Endeavour Energy may need to cut power in more areas along the Hawkesbury River below Windsor. This is an important public safety measure to keep everyone safe.

Customers in these areas should  take steps now to prepare for extended periods without power. Charge your mobile phone, pack your recharger and prepare your evacuation kit if you have not already done so.

To stay safe, disconnect appliances and switch off non-essential electrical circuits before they are submerged. Relocate pumps and other portable appliances at risk from flooding.

Be alert to possible submerged power lines and treat them as live. If you see a damaged or fallen powerline, stay at least 8 metres clear and report it to Endeavour Energy immediately on 131 003, or emergency services on 000.

Helpful contacts:

• For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500
• Flood safety www.ses.nsw.gov.au
• Weather forecasts and warnings www.bom.gov.au
• Radio updates www.abc.net.au

• Traffic conditions and flood impacts www.emergency.nsw.gov.au.

Electrical safety during floods

1. Before flooding
When a flood warning is issued:

• remove or relocate electric pumps and portable appliances away from estimated flood heights
• check that you have a working torch, keep your mobile phone charged and add a battery-operated radio to your evacuation kit
• know the location of the main switch in your meter box
• switch off electricity to non-essential circuits before they are submerged in rising floodwaters.

2. Evacuation
If you are asked to evacuate by emergency services:

• switch off all appliances in your home
• cut off all electricity to your household by turning off the main switch or removing fuses at the main switchboard. This is required even if you have been advised that all power has been cut off to your area.

3. Moving through a flooded area
Treat all power lines as ALIVE and DANGEROUS:

• keep at least 8 metres clear from all power lines. Be aware of low hanging or submerged power lines, powerlines on the ground, dangling in flood water or tangled in trees.
• do not drive across fallen power lines
• look up and be aware of reduced distances between your boat and overhead power lines in flooded rivers.

4. After a flood
When returning home, Endeavour Energy must inspect the main switchboard and meters of areas that have been flooded before power is restored.  Until that happens:

• do not use electrical appliances which have been in floodwaters
• do not handle any wet electrical equipment

do not replace circuit fuses or restore power to a household which has been flooded until your home has thoroughly dried out and been checked by a licensed electrician.