Residents in Uralla, Walcha and surrounding areas will be without power for up to seven hours on Tuesday while Essential Energy carries out maintenance on the region’s electricity network.
A planned outage is scheduled from 9am to 4pm on Tuesday, 29 September, weather and conditions permitting. All customers in Uralla and Walcha will be affected by this planned outage, along with most customers in Arding, Balala, Gostwyck, Kentucky and Kentucky South, Mihi, Nowendoc, Rocky River, Salisbury Plain, Tia, Wollun and Yarrowitch. Some residents in surrounding areas, including the south side of Armidale, may also be affected.
Essential Energy said the work on the high-voltage powerline supplying the region was necessary to maintain the safety and reliability of the network ahead of summer and the bushfire season.
Uralla and Walcha are supplied through a radial feeder, meaning there is no alternative route or power source available while the maintenance is carried out.
Affected customers will receive a planned outage notification from Essential Energy closer to the date confirming details.
Residents are being encouraged to prepare by switching off and unplugging sensitive appliances before the outage, storing water if they rely on electric pumps and keeping fridge and freezer doors closed while the power is off.
Customers who rely on powered medical or life support equipment should ensure they are registered with their electricity retailer and have a back-up plan in place.
Outage preparation advice is available through Essential Energy, while additional planning resources are available for customers who rely on life support equipment.
Essential Energy has thanked the affected communities for their understanding while the maintenance is completed.
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