Crews working to restore outages across SEQ

The first major storms of the season have caused power supply interruptions across South East Queensland with Ergon Energy and Energex crews working to restore customers as soon as possible.

Minister for Energy and Water Supply Mark McArdle is urging residents to be patient as work continues on the wide spread interruptions.

“Around 8,000 Ergon Energy customers in the St George, Dalby and South Burnett areas lost power as a result of last night’s storms,” Mr McArdle said.

“Power was restored to about 2,700 customers in St George, Bollon, Dirranbandi and Thallon within 18 minutes, while 1,500 customers in and around Dalby were impacted for between 90 minutes and two hours.

“About 1,000 customers near Kingaroy also were without power supply for 18 minutes as a result of the storms. Power has also been restored to about 150 customers in Yarraman originally affected by this outage.

“One of the major continuing power supply interruptions is affecting about 1,300 customers in Blackbutt and Bernarkin after lines came down in Enid Court, Blackbutt.

“A further 500 customers in and around Nanango are still without power and a further 200 have had their power cut this morning due to a leaning pole.”

Mr McArdle said Energex crews were also busy having worked through the night to restore power to around 19,000 homes and businesses.

“Currently more than 700 customers are still affected in the Brisbane City and Sunshine Coast Regional Council areas,” he said.

“Worst hit areas were the southern and northern Gold Coast, parts of the Somerset council area, southern Sunshine Coast and the hinterland, Redcliffe peninsula-Bribie Island, and areas on Brisbane’s northside.”

Bureau of Meteorology State Regional Director Rob Webb said there was still a chance of a thunderstorm this afternoon in SEQ

“We expect this to be clearing up this evening and for the rest of the week we’re looking good as far as storms go,” he said.

If members of the public see any powerlines brought down or damaged, they are urged to keep themselves and others well away and phone Energex’s priority emergency number 13 19 62 or Ergon Energy on 13 16 70.

For power restoration updates, visit www.energex.com.au or www.ergon.com.au.

[ENDS] 17 September 2013

Media Contact: Natalie Wynne 0437 334 183