SA Power Networks is continuing its proactive maintenance program in the coming weeks to tackle the ongoing issue of insulator pollution. This program, which began in early February, involves manually washing critical parts of our network that have been most affected by the prolonged dry conditions.

Planned outages necessary for safe cleaning

To ensure the safety of our crews and the public while this essential work is carried out, planned power outages will be required in some areas.

• Minimising disruption: We understand the inconvenience of power interruptions and will make every reasonable effort to schedule these outages at times that reduce the impact on our customers.
• Advance notice: Customers who will be affected by a planned outage will receive notification at least four working days in advance.

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Focus Areas: Kangaroo Island, Yorke Peninsula, and Eyre Peninsula.

This targeted cleaning program, which began in early February, is a direct response to the persistent dry weather causing insulator pollution. The most impacted regions include:

• Kangaroo Island
• Yorke Peninsula (including the areas between Port Wakefield and Balaklava)
• Parts of the Eyre Peninsula

This program will remain in place until sufficient rainfall naturally cleans the contaminants from our network.

Our commitment to customers

Cecilia Schutz, Manager of External Affairs at SA Power Networks, acknowledges the impact this issue has had: "This issue has caused significant inconvenience and frustration to our customers, and we are taking all reasonable steps to mitigate the impacts of insulator pollution."

She added, "We are putting a great deal of effort and resource into dealing with this weather event, which is unusual in its persistence. It's important for us to balance this with responsible spending to minimise the impact on customer bills in the long run."

Ms. Schutz also highlighted the scale of the challenge: "Due to the vast number of insulators across our network, manually cleaning every single one is not feasible. Ultimately, significant rainfall is the most effective way to fully resolve widespread insulator pollution and the associated power outages."

Understanding insulator pollution and power outages

• The role of insulators: Insulators are vital components that prevent electricity from straying from powerlines to the ground.
• The problem of pollution: During extended dry periods, dust, salt, and other airborne contaminants can build up on insulators. This build-up can create a conductive path, leading to electrical faults and power outages.
• Momentary vs. Prolonged Outages:
  • Momentary outages: These are brief power flickers caused by temporary electrical faults, often lasting only seconds.
  • Prolonged outages: These require our crews to physically inspect the network and ensure its safety before power can be restored, which naturally takes more time.

How we're tackling insulator pollution

SA Power Networks employs several strategies to minimise the effects of insulator pollution:

• Manual washing: Targeted cleaning of insulators in high-risk areas using water.
• Regular inspections: Ongoing monitoring of our powerlines and equipment to identify potential pollution-related issues early.

Working with ElectraNet

Insulator pollution can also affect ElectraNet's transmission network, which is responsible for bringing high-voltage power from generators to our substations. When ElectraNet's network is impacted, we rely on their information to keep our customers informed. We work closely with ElectraNet to understand and communicate any disruptions.

Learn More: Watch Our Explainer Video

Read more about outages due to insulator pollution or watch the video below for an in-depth explanation of insulator pollution and how it affects our network.