SA Power Networks has welcomed the State Government's announcement of a 50-metre exclusion zone around electricity powerlines standing in River Murray floodwaters.

“This will help keep people safe from electrocution and electric shock and also reduce the potential for disconnection of power supply for Riverland communities,” said Paul Roberts, Head of Corporate Affairs.

“Flood modelling shows that at the 160GL flood level around 3,000 Stobie poles will be standing in water and a further 1,000 will be inundated if levels reach 200GL.

“To maintain electricity supply to the region the majority of powerlines must remain live. This needs to be supported by an exclusion zone to reduce any potential risk to the community,” Mr Roberts said.

“The exclusion zone will allow the continued safe operations of powerlines in flood plains. This will then assist irrigators and communities outside the reach of flooding, who rely on power supplied by powerlines now standing in plains affected by flood waters.

“People should always assume powerlines are live and potentially lethal. The risk is heightened with the presence of water. Avoiding flooded areas is the safest course of action.”

Mr Roberts said there were two types of issues that might lead to electricity disconnection.

“The first relates to flooding or imminent inundation of property and on-the-ground infrastructure. About 1,200 customer services, including unoccupied properties, pumps and boat sheds, so far have been disconnected for safety reasons.”

The second issue relates to higher-voltage powerlines that cross the river and floodplains to supply other parts of the Riverland and lower reaches of the Murray.

“The implementation of exclusion zones will help minimise the likelihood of these higher voltage powerlines having to be turned off for safety reasons.”