Bushfire prevention

Preparing for the upcoming bushfire season

With a focus on safety for both customers and community we undertake comprehensive pre-summer bushfire inspections and vegetation management. Almost half of the network we service is classified as Bushfire Zone by the Rural Fire Service (RFS). This large program of work is undertaken diligently by our team to keep our customers and community safe particularly during bushfire seasons. Following a recent inspection in your area, work is required to reduce the risk of vegetation contacting overhead powerlines, whether it be via tree growth, or branches and vegetation falling.

We apologise in advance for the interruption to your power supply whilst we undertake this work. We understand the importance of having ongoing power supply and as a result we will undertake all work quickly and safely to restore power as indicated.

_{This map shows those areas classified by the RFS as Bushfire Zones marked in white.}

Important considerations during pre-summer bushfire inspections and vegetation management

• If you’re a life support customer please activate your back-up plan immediately. If you are not currently registered for life support and require power for the use of medical devices please call 131 003 to commence the registration process.
• Once power supply is lost, automatic garage doors will not open. It is always good to know how to manually open, close and safely secure your garage door in case of a loss of power.
• Some of the trucks used to repair electricity infrastructure are large and we may be forced to park across driveways to enable safe access to complete the work required. Talk to our crew when they arrive onsite if you need access to your vehicle, they will work with you to find a suitable time.
• Should there be adverse weather, the job may be rescheduled to another date – we know this is difficult where customers have made alternative arrangements, however our crew is unable to work on live wires during heavy rain or very strong winds.
• In rural areas, access to private property might be required for repairs, safety inspections or switching activities. Please allow our staff access - your power supply may not be interrupted but access to a pole on your property may be required to restore supply to others.
• In rural areas loss of power often results in loss of water. If you require power for water pumps at your property please consider alternate power generation (I.e. Petrol generators) or alternate water supplies for the duration of the outage.
• If you have biodiversity risk associated with your property please let us know by calling 131 003.

What to expect when our teams is onsite

Previously, we used helicopters for these inspections. This year, we’re trialing drones. Drones offer a quieter way of inspecting the lines and will have less of an impact on our customers with flight paths directly following powerlines, reducing the need to fly above properties and farmland.

Drones, equipped with high-resolution cameras and advanced sensors, can conduct detailed inspections with greater accuracy and speed, even in hard-to-reach areas. While their technology will ensure they only capture pictures of our electrical assets, and not surrounding properties. For more on our use of drones see here.

Data collected from these flights, enable us to identify all network and vegetation defects that could result in network breakdowns or trees touching power lines. To ensure our network remains safe and reliable we will rectify all identified defects before the start of the bushfire season.

We will in a lot of cases have to enter rural properties where the mains run through the property to undertake this work.

_{An example of the photos we obtain identifying network and vegetation defects}

Why now?

Timing is very important and we work hard every year to ensure all inspections and rectification work is complete before the formal start of Bushfire Season on 1 October (in most areas).

Outage Hints and Tips:

Protect your personal safety, electrical equipment and improve your outage experience by following these helpful tips:

• try to keep your fridge and freezer closed as much as possible to avoid food spoiling
• switch off any electronic equipment and disconnect it from the power outlet prior to the interruption. This includes items such as computers, printers, internet modems & routers, media players, television sets and electronic timers
• switch off three phase motors such as air conditioners and garage doors
• recharge or replace batteries for portable devices such as mobile phones, tablets, radios and torches
• do not arrange for electrical work to be undertaken within your premises during the outage
• if you have solar panels, check your system is restored once the outage is complete. Not all solar inverters will switch back on automatically
• once your power has been switched off, remember any automatic/electric door (garage doors etc.) will not operate, so it is good to move your car out before the planned outage, or understand how to use the manual override.
• in rural areas loss of power often results in loss of water. If you require power for water pumps at your property please consider alternate power generation (I.e. Petrol generators) or alternate water supplies for the duration of the outage
• gas powered stoves and hot water systems rely on electricity supply in order to ignite, you therefore will not have these available during the planned outage.
• your NBN internet and home phone service will not be available without your electricity supply (unless backup infrastructure has been installed), so please make alternate arrangements
• don’t turn any electric appliances on during your planned outage and leave them on, as often they will turn on when supply is restored and you least expect it
• consider purchasing an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) connected to any critical devices which may be required during a planned outage
• a USB power bank provides backup to charge any USB devices (phones etc) during outages
• our construction works often require road closures. This could affect bus routes on the day of the works, so please be across any potential impacts to your commute
• please be aware that we may be working in your street on days scheduled for your bin pickup. If possible, try to place bins in a location that they can be picked up.

Questions or concerns

For further information about Endeavour Energy or outages in your area speak with our team on 131 003 or reach out using Facebook or Twitter