Power providers prepared for summer storm season

Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson told State Parliament this week that the recent storms that hit south east Queensland would be the first of many across the state in the coming months.

The Minister said ENERGEX and Ergon Energy are ready to tackle whatever nature throws at the electricity network.

“More than 2,000 ENERGEX emergency crews and support staff and 1600 trucks will be ready to respond to power interruptions in south east Queensland this summer,” Mr Wilson said.

Details are outlined in the ENERGEX Summer Preparedness Plan.

The Minister said that ENERGEX has set aside a record $555 million for capital works and maintenance in the lead up to summer and the organisation is also on track to boost its electricity capacity this summer.

“The extra capacity will be the equivalent of the entire power use of the entire Gold Coast on a normal spring day,” he said.

“A series of community safety initiatives will reinforce the organisation’s ‘safety first’ culture," he said.

Minister Wilson said Ergon Energy had ramped up its preparations for the coming storm and cyclone season after delivering its best-ever performance last summer.

“Ergon Energy is in the third year of a five-year capital works program that is delivering a massive $3.2 billion boost to the network.

“Its National Contact Centre has recruited and trained extra staff especially for the storm season and the Storm Centre on Ergon Energy’s website is now active.

“I recently had the pleasure of joining the Premier in opening Ergon Energy’s new multi-million dollar control centres in Townsville and Rockhampton.

“These world class centres will revolutionise the way Ergon Energy responds to emergencies in regional Queensland.

“For the first time, control centre operators in Townsville and Rockhampton will have control of almost all of Ergon Energy’s entire network.

“That’s no mean feat when you consider a network of around a million power poles, 150,000 kilometres of powerlines and more than 300 substations across 97% of the state.

“These super control centres will be the network’s nerve centre and either one of them will be able to take over in an emergency.

“Queenslanders from Cooktown to Coolangatta can draw comfort from the fact that when the storms hit this summer, ENERGEX and Ergon Energy will be ready for action,” Mr Wilson said.

Media Inquiries: Ellen McIntyre 3225 1819