Latest update for Broken Hill, Menindee, Tibooburra, White Cliffs, Wilcannia and surrounding communities: Monday 21 October 2024 6pm (ACDT)
- The generator supplying power to Broken Hill and surrounds has tripped. The cause is currently being investigated. We'll provide updates as soon as they're available.
- To maintain the performance of the generator powering the region, planned outages may be needed. These will occur overnight to minimise impacts on the community.
- The planned outage on Wednesday 23 October 2024 has been cancelled. We will keep you updated if further outages are needed.
Take action
- Provide your mobile to your electricity retailer to get SMS alerts with the latest updates. Your retailer is the company that sends you your energy bill.
- Learn more about how to prepare for and safely manage an outage.
- Visit the Essential Energy website for more detailed updates about this outage or call 13 20 80 for support.
Further information about the disruption
A storm has impacted power supplies to Broken Hill and towns throughout the Far West of NSW. This has left a significant number of homes without electricity after transmission towers supplying electricity to the region were damaged.
If you live in this area, please minimise your energy use during peak times. Until electricity infrastructure can be repaired and returned to service, saving electricity can make a big difference for you and your neighbours.
You can help by minimising electricity usage until power is fully restored during the evening peak period between 5:30pm and 10:30pm Australian Central Daylight Time (ACDT). Please:
- turn off any non-essential appliances
- use lights only in occupied rooms
- minimise any heating or cooling use.
Outside of these times, the community should continue to use electricity as they normally would.
By making small changes at critical times, you can help the electricity network to get back to normal as quickly as possible.
More energy saving tips can be found at what to do electricity supply is threatened.
Damage to the transmission network is significant. At this early stage, repairs to the network are estimated to take at least a couple of weeks. The NSW Government is coordinating assistance across emergency services, government agencies, and electricity companies.