Bushfires are already burning across parts of NSW, reminding us how quickly conditions can escalate during summer. With hot, dry and windy weather forecast, now is the time for all of us to stay alert and prepared.

Dry grasses, oil-rich eucalyptus, low humidity and gusty winds can create dangerous conditions in an instant.

Essential Energy is working alongside communities to reduce risk across its network that spans more than 737,000 square kilometres - including some of the highest bushfire risk zones in the state. This includes proactive vegetation management to maintain safe clearances around powerlines, targeted inspections of high-risk areas, and addressing defects to strengthen network safety during bushfire season.

While we’re doing what we can to reduce bushfire risk across the network, it’s important our customers are also prepared for the summer bushfire seasons.

For customers in rural areas, outages whether planned or unplanned often affect more than just the lights. Water pumps, electric gates, garage doors and even livestock water supplies may rely on electricity, meaning preparation is essential during bushfire season.

We encourage all customers to download and use our Bushfire and Electrical Safety Kit to help you plan, prepare, act and survive. The kit can be downloaded on our Bushfire Safety web page.

Customers who rely on medical equipment are encouraged to have a power outage plan in place and to keep their contact details up to date with their energy retailer. For more information, please visit essentialenergy.com.au/lifesupport.

Be prepared for bushfires

Following a few simple steps can help to protect your property from fire:

• Identify potentially hazardous vegetation around your home and farm
• Plant trees a safe distance from powerlines. Visit essentialenergy.com.au/trees for advice on planting tree around our network.
• Keep an eye on fire danger ratings on the Rural Fire Service website.
• Consider the potential loss of electricity grid power in your bushfire plans.
• Know where your Neighbourhood Safer Place is.
• Have enough drinking water available for all household members for 24 hours. Power may remain on at your location, but electricity supply to municipal water pumps may be impacted.
• Keep a battery powered AM/FM radio with fresh batteries for news and emergency broadcasts.
• Ensure petrol or diesel water pumps have been tested and reticulation is serviceable. Test the operation of pumps and water reticulation before you need them.
• Ensure that you know how to bypass or manually operate electric gates, electric locks and garage doors. Turn off the power and practice when the weather is cool.
• Have a torch with fresh batteries readily available.
• Consider a portable petrol or diesel generator for critical loads such as refrigeration and medical devices you may be dependent on. If the generator is wired into the house wiring, ensure that this work is done by a licensed electrician. Unlicensed electrical work poses a risk to your safety and our workers.
• We recommend that property owners also complete a Bushfire Survival Plan and Farm FireWise Checklist and Action Plan to reduce their bushfire risk. These documents are available on the NSW Rural Fire Service’s website at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au. Your Plan should include consideration of what to do if you have no power supply to your property.

More information can be found on our Bushfire Safety Page.