General News
11 December, 2024
Ergon Energy power outages leave Mount Isa residents frustrated
The power company has already scrapped a planned outage after enquiries by this masthead.
Grass fires that burned around Mount Isa in recent months have caused Ergon Energy crews to fall behind in network maintenance, forcing hundreds of households to endure multiple scheduled power outages during the hottest period of the year.
And while another power outage is scheduled for next week, following enquiries from North West Weekly, a spokesperson for Ergon said the December 17 outage was now “under review”.
Editor's note: Two planned outages for December 17 and December 19 have now been cancelled.
Frustrated Mount Isa residents contacted this masthead to share their experiences, including an 89-year-old whose Healy home has seen the power go out five times since August, including as recently as Tuesday.
She said she had been repeatedly forced to substitute her air conditioning with cold wet towels in an effort to stay cool in 40-plus degree heat.
During the Rotary Winter Wonderland event at Outback at Isa on the weekend, there was a table filled with residents enjoying the air conditioning as they waited for the power to be restored at their Healy homes.
An Ergon spokesperson told North West Weekly that customers were always provided with written notice of any planned outages, including the outage planned for next week.
“We have been bringing in additional support from Cloncurry to help Mount Isa crews get the work done as efficiently as possible,” the spokesperson said.
“Unfortunately, bushfires threw a spanner in the works and disrupted the schedule, so some of the work is being done in summer.
“We have a major network maintenance program in these areas, which includes fixing some priority defects that need to be rectified by set dates for safety reasons.
“These upgrades are essential for the safety and reliability of the network and will reduce the risk of unplanned outages, which can impact the community for much longer and with no notice.
“Where it’s possible, practical, and safe, crews have been doing live line works, which do not require outages.”
The spokesperson said 340 Mount Isa households had their power switched off in the biggest outage. She said it was critical people have a back-up plan to stay safe and hydrated during scheduled outages.
“Customers can register with our life support program for advice on how to prepare," the spokesperson said.