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24 January 2025 - 4.49pm Update
Clean up and restoration efforts varied across today (24 January) as our crews continued to work across multiple communities in Northern NSW to put the power back on after storms hit the region yesterday.
Helicopters were used to inspect areas of the network and revealed an extensive amount of damage through challenging terrain and long spans of powerlines in the Murwillumbah region.
One of the largest impacted areas in and around the Nimbin region was one of the main focuses of work today with crews hopeful to have the area restored this evening.
Due to the complexity of the damage to the network, it is expected that full restoration may take several days.
Additional crews have come from Tamworth, Dungog, Stroud, Taree, Bathurst, Mudgee and Cowra with more expected to arrive tomorrow.
As at 4:30pm, there around 1300 customers that remain without power.
Our outages page is being updated with estimated restoration times as they become known.
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24 January 2025 - 5.54am UpdateEssential Energy crews worked throughout yesterday (23 January) afternoon and overnight to restore as many customers as possible given the challenging conditions after a storm cell ripped through the Northern Rivers and Far North Coast.
Additional crews from Grafton, Maclean and Ballina plus helicopters have been brought into the area to assist with the continuing effort to assess damage to the network in areas with rugged terrain or that are inaccessible after the storm.
Crews are working to clean up debris in and around the powerlines to make it safe for the power to be restored. There are also numerous poles and wires that require repair, along with broken crossarms and conductors.
While crews have made great strides in restoring power to around 12,300 customers, it is expected that full restoration may take several days to complete due to access and the number of faults across the network.
As at 5.30am, there are around 2800 customers that remain without power. The most impacted areas include the communities and surrounding areas of Nimbin, Murwillumbah and Mullumbimby.
Our outages page is being updated with estimated restoration times as they become known. -
23 January 2025 - 2.00pm Update
Several communities across the Northern Rivers and North Coast have been heavily affected by a severe storm cell that moved across the region this morning (23 January), with around 27,600 customers losing power at its peak.
The hardest hit communities are Nimbin and Murwillumbah with additional damage in the rural areas around the Northern Rivers and coastal region of the North Coast.
Essential Energy crews are currently assessing the high volume of calls and the extent of damage in order to prioritise the restoration efforts.
Crews will need to spend time cleaning up the areas around the powerlines to make the locations safe before the power can be turned back on. As a result of the storm, access to some locations is difficult or not possible at this stage.
Additional crews are being brought into the region to support.
It is expected that full restoration may take several days to complete due to the number of faults across the network.
Since the storm hit around 8.30am, crews have completed over 11,000 restorations.
As at 1.30pm, there are over 21,000 customers without power.
Our outages page is being updated with estimated restoration times as they become known.
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23 January 2025 - 10.49am Update
A storm cell is sweeping through the Northern Rivers and Far North Coast of NSW causing wide-spread damage and causing power outages impacting over 25,600 households and businesses.
At around 8.30am, around 4,000 customers were left without power in the Northern Rivers region, mainly around Lismore, Kyogle and Casino.
By 9.30am, the following towns and surrounding areas were impacted including rural communities:
Byron Bay - 8,000
Tweed Heads - 7,700
Murwillumbah - 3,900
Ballina - 1,900
Essential Energy crews will be working to restore power as soon as it is safe to do so.
Our website outages page is being updated with impacted locations, estimated restoration times when known, outage cause and where challenges are being faced in restoring supply.
Essential Energy is on call 24/7 and, in an emergency, crews will work as quickly as safety and conditions allow to restore power to the homes, hospitals, schools, businesses and services that form part of each community that we service.
In the event of a storm, it’s important that everyone keeps safety front of mind and stays aware and safe.
To prepare for a storm:
- Keep an eye on StormTracker so you can be aware of storms near you
- Secure loose items around your house or property, which could become airborne in strong winds
- Trim trees around the house. Do not attempt to prune trees in or near powerlines - call us on 132391 or visit essentialenergy.com.au/trees to report trees near powerlines
- Have a plan in case you lose power supply. Before a storm arrives:
- Recharge your phones and laptops to help you stay connected with radio alerts, family and friends
- Back-up computers and phones to keep data safe
- Consider alternative power sources for water pumps and cooking
- Make sure you know how to open your garage doors and gates manually
- Unplug your television, computer, modem and other sensitive electrical equipment during a storm and minimise the use of telephones and electrical appliances
- Keep a torch and battery powered radio in an easily accessible place in the event of a power outage
- Prepare an emergency plan and an emergency kit. Visit the SES website, sesemergencyplan.com.au for more information and tools for creating your emergency plan
- STAY. CALL. WAIT. Stay at least 8 metres away from fallen powerlines or power poles and call Essential Energy immediately on 132080 if you do see damaged powerlines or power poles and wait for Essential Energy to give you the all-clear.
Throughout the storm, customers should look out for indicators of potential damage to the electricity network, such as:
- Fallen powerlines or power poles
- flickering or no power supply
- burnt areas in paddocks or roadsides
- injured or downed livestock
- smoke or fallen trees
If you see any of these things, stay at least 8 metres away and call Essential Energy on 132080 to report the damage. In an emergency always call 000.
Storm safety tips
- Always stay at least 8 metres from fallen or damaged powerlines and anything in contact with them and report the fault immediately
- Consider alternative power sources for water pumps and cooking
- Open your garage doors and gates manually
- Unplug your television, computer, modem and other sensitive electrical equipment during a storm and minimise the use of telephones and electrical appliances
- Keep a torch and battery powered radio in an easily accessible place in the event of a power outage
- Remove loose debris, which could become airborne in strong winds
View our Storm safety page for further information.
StormTracker
View our StormTracker to see real-time storm information such as lightning and radar.
More information
For additional information, view our Power Outages page.