Power outages on Yorke Peninsula
Approximately 25,000 customers remain without supply on the Yorke Peninsula, as a result of faults that occurred in ElectraNet's transmission network early this morning.
SA Power Networks has been advised by ElectraNet, that the fault at its Hummocks substation, was the result of insulator pollution – an issue which has also been impacting the local distribution network for several weeks but has now extended to the ElectraNet’s transmission network.
The accumulation of salt and dirt on powerline equipment, due to the ongoing dry conditions, has worsened over the past several weeks due to the lack of rainfall.
SA Power Networks Manager of External Affairs, Cecilia Schutz said: “This is a one in 10-to-15-year event, attributable to the driest summer in 33 years”.
“SA Power Networks crews have been working to clean affected insulators, but with over 650,000 Stobie poles across the state, it is not feasible to clean every insulator. The most effective resolution to this issue will come with significant rainfall, which will help clear the pollutants from the equipment. We need at least 10 mm of rain in a 24-hour period.”
SA Power Networks has been receiving advice from ElectraNet on the expected restoration time, as it works to advise customers directly via SMS, via social media and its website. It is currently advised that expected restoration will be this evening.
Ms Schutz said that additional smaller faults on SA Power Networks’ local distribution network may become evident once it is re-supplied by ElectraNet.
“We have crews on standby to repair any faults on our own network once ElectraNet restores supply – unfortunately these aren’t visible or fixable until we have power flowing through our lines.”
“This is an incredibly frustrating situation for customers, and we are doing all that we can to get up-to-date advice, and be ready to fix faults on our network as they arise. We will continue to keep customers updated via SMS, social media and our website.”
For background:
Insulators are critical components of the power grid, isolating electrical conductors and preventing electricity from flowing down the Stobie poles and into the ground. The accumulation of salt, dirt, and pollutants on these insulators can create a conductive layer, which, when combined with moisture such as morning dew or light rain, can cause electrical faults, power outages.
While this issue has been primarily affecting the Yorke Peninsula, it is not isolated to this area. Similar disruptions have been reported in other regional and coastal areas of the network, where conditions are conducive to the accumulation of pollutants on powerline equipment.