Crews Still Making Good Progress but Vegetation Damage in Remote Areas is Extensive

Saturday 15 April 2017, 12.27pm – Unison crews have restored power to around 600 customers so far today and expects to restore most customers by 6pm tonight.

The lines company says, however, damage in remote areas is extensive.

Unison Relationship Manager, Danny Gough said, “This morning we’ve been focused on assessing the damage via helicopter on the remaining, mainly rural, feeders that are out, deploying crews to fix the damaged areas and re-livening the network when it’s safe to do so.

“There is, however, extensive damage to the network in remote areas, which has become apparent as we’ve flown these lines by helicopter and received feedback from our crews on the ground. The damage has mainly been caused by branches and vegetation that have blown into lines, but we’ve had power lines down and some poles too,” said Danny.

He said Unison has also been repairing damage to customer-owned service lines, which are not part of Unison’s network.

“We’ve decided to fix these customer lines and at no cost to customers given it’s been such an extreme event,” said Danny. “We’re mindful that it’s a long weekend and customers may not be able to get electricians in to repair their service line. We also understand everyone wants to get on and enjoy their weekends and move on from the destruction of Cyclone Cook.”

Customers with hot water issues please bear with us

“We are also aware that some customers are without hot water and we are getting to these jobs as we can, but obviously have to prioritise customers who have been without power since Cyclone Cook hit.

“We are asking that customers only log a no hot water call if they have had their power on for more than 12 hours as it will take some time for you hot water cylinder to reheat,” said Danny.

Unison will provide the next update on restoration progress later this afternoon.

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