SA Power Networks is doing everything it can to minimise disconnection of power to residential, business and agriculture/horticulture properties in the Riverland.

Head of Corporate Affairs, Paul Roberts, said “while protecting the safety of the community and property is a priority, SA Power Networks does not want to disconnect one more customer than necessary.”

There are two areas of consideration around disconnections – one where there is flooding of property or it is imminent, and the other involving safe clearances under powerlines crossing floodplains or the river.

“It is likely there will be about 1,950 further disconnections by the end of the week, mainly in low lying areas where there has been inundation, or flooding is imminent within days as the initial forecast flood peak moves along the river,” Mr Roberts said.

“We are making ongoing assessments about the safety of electricity supply for customers and the community and safety for our crews,” he said. “We are doing everything we can to work with customers and will give as much notice as we can of impending disconnections.”

He said SA Power Networks was working with government agencies on options to avoid disconnection of powerlines that run across flood plains and which supply customers beyond the reach of floodwaters.

“We are required to ensure compliance with legislated safe clearances to overhead powerlines, but we are working with the government’s Office of the Technical Regulator on options such as boat exclusion zones on flood plains to allow us to have reduced, but still safe clearances to powerlines, that will mean the power can stay on. We are also putting in more switch points to reduce the number of customers who might be affected by a disconnection. This will benefit many who live and work outside the flood zones.”

Mr Roberts said about 50 radial supply lines that cross over the river were well clear of the water, providing safe clearance. These will continue to be monitored.

He said SA Power Networks was planning to a 250GL/per day flow. “To put that in perspective, our metropolitan reservoirs hold 200GL in total capacity.”
He also illustrated the size of the challenge for the electricity distributor.

“We have extensive infrastructure in flood plains and river crossings. For example, the number of poles in the modelled flood zone at 160GL/day is 3,312. At 200GL/day it is 4,033 and at 250GL/day it is 6,594.”

Important public safety reminder: stay well clear of downed powerlines or powerlines that are low over the water and electricity infrastructure in floodwaters.