Overhead powerline switchgear upgrade
Overhead switchgear is a cost effective way of supporting a reliable energy supply. We’re now installing new switchgear that can be controlled remotely, to further improve reliability.
What we're doing
Switchgear is an important component on our network as it provides network protection and regulates supply. It is often used for de-energising equipment and clearing faults in an immediate area, minimising the impact on customers, and ensuring reliable power supply.
Our traditional switchgear is manual and requires our team to attend on site to adjust. By installing new switchgear, we can perform activities remotely, quickly protecting our customers and community, and minimising outage impacts.
Ageing switchgear equipment can also lead to network defects resulting in more frequent and longer unplanned outages. We are proactively replacing old for new to ensure this does not occur.
We apologise in advance for any interruption to your power supply as we complete the switchgear upgrade work. We understand the importance of having ongoing power supply and will undertake all work quickly and safely to restore power as practicable.
Important considerations during outages
- If you’re a customer who relies on essential medical equipment, please activate your back-up plan immediately. If you are not currently registered for life support and you require power for the use of vital medical devices, please call 131 003 to begin the registration process
- Some of the trucks used to repair electricity infrastructure are large and we may be forced to park across driveways to safely complete the work required. Talk to our crew when they arrive on site if you need access to your vehicle, and they will work with you to find a suitable time to move
- Should there be bad weather, the job may be rescheduled to another date. We understand that this is difficult for customers have made alternative arrangements, but for safety reasons, our crew cannot work on live wires during heavy rain or very strong winds
- In rural areas, access to private property might be required for repairs, safety inspections or switching activities. Please allow our staff access, as your power supply may not be interrupted, but access to a pole on your property may be required to restore power to other people's property
- If you have biodiversity risks associated with your property, please let us know by calling 131 003
What to expect when our team is on site
Overhead switchgear upgrades typically take one day to complete, and a planned outage is required to ensure the safe installation of the new equipment.
A few days after the switchgear has been installed, another team may come and install a small aerial to enable the remote operation of switchgear during outages and events. Your power will not be interrupted for this to happen.
We may also install a new pole in the same, or immediate, area. Our team will minimise the interruption to your power supply, by upgrading the pole and switchgear at the same time. A new pole may be dropped off a few days prior to us commencing work. It will be safely placed on either the footpath or nature strip, and will be clearly marked.
In a small number of cases, the new pole may need to move 1-2m away from the old pole position, depending on other assets in the area, such as gas, water and telecommunications.
On the day, you can expect to see our team members, along with one or two elevated work platforms to allow them to work at heights, as well as a crane borer truck to replace old poles with a new one if required.
To use elevated work platforms and keep our team members safe, traffic flow may be impacted, or narrow streets closed, to perform the upgrade. Talk to our crew when they arrive if you need access to your vehicle, they will work with you to find a suitable time.
We may leave old poles on site, as they require a special vehicle to pick them up. This can take three to five business days, however, you can rest assured that we will collect them.
