Poles and hardware upgrade

Upgrading electricity equipment to improve reliability

We’re focused on providing reliable electricity supply and we continue to invest in the upgrade of electricity infrastructure, leveraging the latest technology to build a more resilient network.

Poles and hardware upgrades are undertaken following regular and thorough inspections of equipment. When defects are identified it’s important they are rectified quickly and safely, and this is why you’ll soon experience an outage as we undertake upgrade work in your area.

We apologise in advance for the interruption to your power supply whilst we complete the upgrade 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.

Important considerations during outages:

• 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.
• 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.
• If you have biodiversity risk associated with your property please let us know by calling 131 003.

What to expect when our team is onsite

We proactively replace poles and hardware before it can impact electricity reliability, as poorly maintained equipment can result in more frequent unplanned power interruptions or voltage fluctuations. While some poles and equipment may look fine on the outside, it’s possible they are damaged internally or below ground level so careful inspections are needed beforehand.

Every pole (all 80,000 of them) is inspected across our network every 5.5 years. Inspections involve a team member digging around the base of the pole or column, measuring the wall thickness and looking for signs of rot or termites. If our strict safety standards are not met, we’ll condemn the pole and schedule a time for replacement.

_{Example of a pole impacted by rot and requiring upgrade}

It typically takes one day to complete a pole upgrade, and to undertake the work safely we must switch off power to impacted poles and wires for the duration of the job.

We may need to drop off the new pole a few days prior the commencement of work. It will be safely placed on either the footpath or nature strip and clearly marked.

In a small number of cases, we may not be able to place the new pole in the same position as the old pole and we may need to move it by 1 to 2m depending on other assets in the area including gas, water and telecommunications.

_{Example of a pole relocated <1m from original position to allow set back from road.}

On the day you can expect to see a number of Endeavour Energy team members, along with 1-2 elevated work platforms allowing our team to work at height, and a crane borer truck to replace the old pole with a new one. Please note, this can impact traffic flow and may require the closure of some narrow streets.

_{Example of what you can expect to see during a pole upgrade}

Following the completion of work, we may leave old poles onsite as they require a special vehicle to pick them up. This can take 3-5 business days, however rest assured we will soon return to collect them.

_{Example of new pole and equipment at the completion of upgrade}

Why now?

When defects are identified it’s important they are rectified quickly and safely to ensure ongoing reliability of power supply in your area. Repairs are undertaken when teams and equipment are next available although last minute changes to schedule can occur if there is adverse weather on the day.

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 may provide backup to charge any USB devices (phones etc) during a planned outage
• 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