SA Power Networks has restored power to all customers in the communities of Quorn, Leigh Creek and the main township of Hawker.

A severe weather event last Thursday impacted electricity supply to over 36,000 customers across the State. At 2:30 pm on Tuesday, SA Power Networks had re-supplied customers in the mid and far north with the use of mobile generators.

SA Power Networks Head of Corporate Affairs, Cecilia Schutz, said that the installation of mobile generators was a major logistical and technical undertaking. “In order to safely and effectively install this generation, our crews had to assess damage to an area of network spanning approximately 30,000 square kilometers – almost the entire Flinders Ranges”. 

“Our crews have worked consistently since last Thursday to assess the damage and prepare the network for generation, which involved multiple generators, bypass equipment and heavy vehicles stationed across three townships”. 

Extensive damage to ElectraNet’s transmission network, including 19 transmission towers supporting the network from Port Augusta to Leigh Creek, will take time to fix. Mobile generation is now servicing critical infrastructure such as telecommunications, water, hospitals and schools.  

SA Power Networks crews remain stationed in proximity to the townships, working to repair local network faults which impacted the ability to provide temporary generation. Crews are now working to restore SA Power Networks lines which supply customers in the periphery of Hawker and expect some minor outages to the Hawker township while crews work through these faults. 

Ms Schutz said “We thank impacted communities for their patience and cooperation as we have worked to restore supply. We acknowledge the significant impact that this weather event has had on their day-to-day lives.” 

SA Power Networks requests that customers in Quorn, Hawker and Leigh Creek continue to leave their solar systems off, to ensure stable generation operation. 

SA Power Networks will continue to work closely with ElectraNet and the South Australian Government’s Zone Emergency Support Team (ZEST) to determine expected timeframes for the restoration of the Davenport-Leigh Creek line.