According to Essential Energy’s Customer Resolutions Manager, Elaine Gillman, the Life Support Power Outage Plan, part of a national collaboration led by The Energy Charter, is a practical planning resource for people who rely on medical equipment at home and those who care for them.

The plan provides free and accessible tools, including a simple checklist and a downloadable plan that people can tailor to their own circumstances and share with carers, family members and health professionals.

For households that rely on medical equipment at home, planning ahead for a power interruption is an important part of managing care needs. While electricity networks are designed to be reliable, outages - whether planned or unplanned - can occur, and increasingly more severe and unpredictable weather can also impact the network and, in some cases, lead to longer restoration times.

“The Life Support Power Outage Plan gives households a clear way to plan ahead, make shared decisions and feel more confident about their arrangements, Elaine says.

Since its release, more than 40,000 Australians have accessed the Power Outage Planning resources, with over 23,000 engaging specifically with the Life Support Power Outage Plan. Feedback indicates many users feel more confident and better prepared after using the tools.

“We’re working to make sure customers know the plan is available and understand how it can support them. Sharing these resources through our customer communications helps ensure people feel informed and supported,” Elaine says.

Customers who rely on medical equipment at home, along with their carers and support people, can access the Life Support Power Outage Plan online at lifesupport.poweroutageplan.com.au.

Customers are also encouraged to ensure they are registered as a Life Support customer with their electricity retailer, so their life support needs are known during planned and unplanned power interruptions. For more information please visit our website essentialenergy.com.au/lifesupport.