Tropical Cyclone Olwyn - latest update

Power restored to most customers in the wake of TC Olwyn

17/03/2015 11.30am

Horizon Power crews are close to restoring power to the majority of customers in Exmouth and Carnarvon in the wake of devastation to the network in those towns caused by Tropical Cyclone Olwyn.

Horizon Power crews, with support from Western Power, Rio Tinto, Transfield Services and other local contractors have restored power to all but 33 customers in Exmouth and 204 customers in Carnarvon.

Power was also connected to the Carnarvon Growers Association and some plantation owners yesterday and Horizon Power is hopeful that at least 100 more customers in Carnarvon will be reconnected today with the remainder tomorrow. All of the customers in Exmouth still without power will be reconnected today with the exception of the Learmonth airport and the Lighthouse Caravan Park which will be running on generator power for a few more days due to damage to those feeders.

Horizon Power would like to thank the communities of Exmouth and Carnarvon for their fantastic support during the restoration period.

Given the damage to the network it is essential that the general public stay away from electrical infrastructure and assume that any fallen power lines are live. The general public are urged to phone 13 23 51 to report any faults or damage to electrical infrastructure.

Media contact: Wendy Pryer – 0409796999

Fast Facts

Exmouth; 33 customers out of more than 2000 Exmouth are without power
Carnarvon; 204 Carnarvon customers out of 3500 customers remain without power.
Denham; Power restored to all customers on Saturday.
Coral Bay; Despite significant damage to the town, no customers lost power as all power lines are underground.

Power restored to hundreds of customers today in Carnarvon and Exmouth

16/03/2015 5.30 pm

Horizon Power crews in Carnarvon and Exmouth have restored power to hundreds more customers today with restoration works continuing for the remaining 377 customers in those towns still without power.

Horizon Power’s electrical infrastructure in Carnarvon was devastated with more than 100 poles damaged. Within 24 hours of Tropical Cyclone Olwyn hitting the town, power had been restored to more than half of the town’s 3500 customers.

At 4.45 pm this afternoon, more than 950 of the remaining 1200 customers without power in Carnarvon had their electricity restored following completion of works on the Babbage Island and South River feeders. Work will continue to be focused on the South River and North River feeders tomorrow where customers remain without power.

Horizon Power would again like to acknowledge the support of Western Power, Rio Tinto and Powerlines Plus crews who have worked tirelessly with Horizon Power crews to reconnect customers.

In Exmouth, the majority of those 200 customers without power today had electricity restored this afternoon. There are a few customers in areas which are still flooded and are not accessible who could be without power for several days.

Media contact: Wendy Pryer – 0409796999

Fast Facts

Exmouth; 36 customers out of more than 2000 Exmouth are without power
Carnarvon; Power restored to an additional 950 customers today, 341 Carnarvon customers remain without power.
Denham; Power restored to all customers on Saturday.
Coral Bay; Despite significant damage to the town, no customers lost power as all power lines are underground.

Horizon Power crews continue to progress restoration of power to Carnarvon and Exmouth

16/03/2015 1:00 pm

Conditions remain challenging in Carnarvon as Horizon Power crews, supported by Western Power, Rio Tinto and Powerlines Plus, work tirelessly to reconnect customers still without power in the wake of Severe Tropical Cyclone Olywn.

Works today are focusing on the North and South River feeders in Carnarvon together with the Babbage Island feeder – all of which are significantly damaged. There are more than 500 customers supplied by the South feeder, more than 150 on the North feeder and approximately 385 on the Babbage line.

Horizon Power is working closely with the Carnarvon Growers Association to provide temporary generation to assist with salvaging crops.

Power has now been restored to 2320 of the 3500 customers in Carnarvon but restoration works have been hampered by a significant number of downed poles and flooded feeders. Horizon Power is hopeful of restoring power to up to 600 more customers today and is prioritising temporary generation for those customers most in need.

In Exmouth, Horizon Power is confident that the vast majority of customers will have power restored by tomorrow but a few customers in areas which are still flooded and are not accessible could be without power for several days.

Media contact: Tracy Armson – 0409635067

Fast Facts

Exmouth ; Power restored to approximately 1800 customers with 200 customers still without power.
Carnarvon; Power restored to 2320 customers with approximately 1190 customers still without power. Approximately 100 poles were damaged by Severe Tropical Cyclone Olwyn.
Denham; Power restored to all customers on Saturday.
Coral Bay ; Despite significant damage to the town, no customers lost power as all power lines are underground.

Horizon Power crews making good progress to restore power in the wake of TC Olwyn

15/03/2015 7:00pm

Horizon Power crews have managed to restore power to close to 90% of customers in Exmouth, while almost 65% of customers in Carnarvon have been reconnected.

Conditions have been challenging in Carnarvon with more damage to infrastructure than initially estimated, however good progress has been made. The town’s main water tanks have been reenergized and 2190 customers now have power.

Horizon Power Managing Director Frank Tudor, who addressed residents at a community meeting in Carnarvon today said the crews had achieved great success under very challenging conditions.

“Tropical Cyclone Olwyn decimated one of our feeders with more poles down than we initially thought, but we have made great progress and I am really proud of our crews and grateful for the support from Rio Tinto, Western Power and Powerlines plus.” Mr Tudor said.

Media contact: Tracy Armson – 0409635067

Fast Facts

Exmouth ; Power restored to approximately 1800 customers with 200 customers still without power.
Carnarvon; Power restored to 2200 customers with approximately 1300 customers still without power. The town’s main water tanks have been re-energized. Approximately 100 poles were damaged by Severe Tropical Cyclone Olwyn.
Denham; Power restored to all customers on Saturday.
Coral Bay ; Despite significant damage to the town, no customers lost power as all power lines are underground.
Power being gradually restored in Exmouth; Carnarvon customers all without power.

13/03/2015 3:00pm

Horizon Power crews have successfully restored power to 200 customers in Exmouth, including the hospital, shopping centre, Caltex service station, police station and SES centre. Crews will continue to work to restore power to remaining customers as soon as possible and back up crews from Karratha will arrive this evening.

Approximately 3,500 customers are now without power in Carnarvon as the town continues to bear the brunt of Severe Tropical Cyclone Olwyn. Horizon Power General Manager Non Interconnected Systems Business Craig Julian said that crews are making progress in Exmouth but cannot commence restoration in Carnarvon as the red alert is still current.

“We are starting to restore customers in Exmouth but we believe the impact on our infrastructure has been severe and some customers may unfortunately face lengthy outages. As soon as we are given the go-ahead by authorities, our crews will assess the damage in Carnarvon and will restore power to customers as soon as possible. In the meantime it is essential that the general public stay away from any fallen powerlines and call 13 23 51 to report any faults.” Mr Julian said.

Media contact: Tracy Armson – 0409635067

Cyclone Olwyn causing power outages to all customers in Exmouth

13/03/15 9:00am

In the wake of destructive winds caused by severe Tropical Cyclone Olwyn all customers (approximately 2000) in Exmouth are without power.

Horizon Power General Manager Non Interconnected Systems Craig Julian said this morning that crews were on the ground in Exmouth and have started to assess the damage and that additional crews would be brought in by helicopter from Karratha to assist with restoration of power.

“Early indications are that we have sustained significant damage to our infrastructure so it is essential that the general public stay away from any fallen powerlines and call 13 23 51 to report any faults. We are working to make areas safe and will endeavour to restore power as soon as possible,” Mr Julian said

Media contact: Tracy Armson – 0409635067

Horizon Power prepared for Tropical Cyclone Olwyn

12/03/15

Horizon Power crews are on stand-by and back-up power stations are ready to start up in the event that Tropical Cyclone Olwyn, currently moving south towards the Exmouth area affects power supplies.

Weather forecasts are predicting heavy rainfall developing over the western Pilbara and Northern Gascoyne today with very destructive winds with gusts exceeding 165 kilometres per hour near the Pilbara coast expected late this evening.

The tropical cyclone is currently estimated to be 345 kilometres northwest of Karratha and 455 kilometres north northwest of Exmouth.

Horizon Power General Manager Operations Ziggy Wilk said today that Horizon Power is well prepared in advance of the cyclone and urged residents in the Pilbara and Gascoyne to ensure they have their cyclone kit ready including a waterproof torch, spare batteries, fresh drinking water and a fully charged mobile phone.

“We have all of our crews mobilised, plenty of fuel in case roads are cut and are prepared for an impact on our power supplies in the Pilbara and Gascoyne,” Mr Wilk said.

Media contact: Tracy Armson – 0409635067