Horizon Power has just restored electricity supplies to more than half of the customers in the Esperance region who were without power due to the bushfires which remain uncontrolled and uncontained.
At 9.30 am, 480 customers were without power but at 10.30 am crews were able to restore supplies to customers on the Daylup feeder. Now 175 customers in the region remain without power.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives or been injured as a result of these fires.
Horizon Power crews are unable to inspect the electrical assets on the ground until an unclear is given by DFES and this is not expected to be any time soon as all efforts remain focused on controlling these fires. Fire affected areas are Grass Patch, Salmon Gums and surrounding areas.
We expect the damage to our assets in the bush fire affected areas to be significant and it could be several days before we can restore power to those areas where poles and wires have been burned down.
Horizon Power, with the assistance of DFES, has been able to get a helicopter in the air to to conduct an aerial patrol of the infrastructure so we can fully assess the damage and begin planning restoration.
If the wind changes and the fires change direction, we may be required to turn off power to customers in at risk areas. We are working very closely with emergency services to ensure the safety of our customers, our staff and the community.
Crews are on standby in other regions to assist our Esperance crews and Western Power has already offered to support Horizon Power in the restoration effort once that work can begin.
Please stay clear of all electrical assets, in particular fallen powerlines. Call 13 23 51 to report a fault.
A community meeting will be held at 11 am today at the Esperance Civic Centre.
For more information, please contact the medialine on 1800 799 745