Horizon Power has successfully restored power supplies to all areas affected by ex-Tropical Cyclone Christine, with the Light Industrial Area in Karratha switched-on today at 4.30 pm.
Approximately 10 customers remain without power in the outskirts of Roebourne and Point Samson due to network issues. A number of calls have been received today from customers in Karratha, Roebourne and Point Samson reporting faults at their homes in suburbs where the network has been repaired. These reported individual faults are being assessed by Horizon Power line crews and are priority restoration works for tomorrow.
Horizon Power line crews, with support from Western Power, continue to work to repair damaged infrastructure, both on the distribution and transmission networks.
Acting General Manager North West Interconnected System Brett Hovingh said this work to repair the infrastructure would take several weeks to complete but would not impact on the supply of electricity.
“We have managed to restore power in all areas and to the vast majority of customers but in many ways the hard work for the line crew now begins as the solution we have put in place is only a temporary fix in many instances,” he said.
“Two feeders are still without power and the transmission line has sustained significant damage which will take several weeks of work to repair.
“I would like to recognise the support of Rio Tinto, who has enabled us to restore power to customers in Roebourne by distributing power through their network, and also to Western Power, who are on site and assisting us with the repair of the damaged transmission line.”
Mr Hovingh said customers could assist Horizon Power in their restoration works, and ensure their safety, by staying away from electrical infrastructure and reporting any damage and faults to Horizon Power on 13 23 51.
While repairing the network, Horizon Power has attended in excess of 60 individual customer faults and found that many of these situations did not require line crew attendance as lack of power was related to the main switch in the customer’s meter box. Mr Hovingh reminded customers to check their meter box or switchboard to see if any switches (RCDs and safety switches) had tripped or fuses blown before reporting loss of power supplies to Horizon Power, as line crew attendance would not be required in these instances.
Contact Reference: Media contact: 1800 799 745