Victoria's severe storms have underscored the need for more backup power to telecommunication towers as tens of thousands of homes remain off the grid, Premier Jacinta Allan says.
As of Friday morning, about 33,000 homes and establishments statewide remained disconnected from the electricity grid, with expectations for most to be reconnected by Saturday evening and an additional 3000 by early next week. The storms triggered one of the largest power outages in Victoria's history, affecting 530,000 properties, primarily due to collapsed transmission lines disrupting the Loy Yang A coal-fired power station in Latrobe Valley.
I’m reliant on Victoria’s coal powered grid.My neighbour has solar panels and a battery.
Guess which one of us has the lights on right now? ????
— Jonathon Momsen (@JonathonMomsen) February 13, 2024
Ms Allan didn't completely dismiss the idea of moving power lines underground but emphasizes the need to bolster the resilience of the above-ground network. Telstra, Optus, and TPG teams are working to restore about 230 offline phone towers, acknowledging concerns raised about the inadequacy of backup power sources during severe weather events. The Premier underscored the critical reliance on mobile phones and advocated for collaborative efforts between government entities and telecommunication companies to address these vulnerabilities.
Meanwhile, leaked internal documents reported by The Herald Sun indicated significant delays for emergency callers on Tuesday. However, Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes disputes the accuracy of these figures, suggesting they were predictive rather than reflective of actual waiting times.
Despite additional staffing, Triple Zero Victoria faced unprecedented call volumes during the storms, with record-high police calls and substantial impacts on non-emergency lines. NBN services also suffered disruptions across more than 100 suburbs, with infrastructure damage in several areas.
A relief point has been established in Mirboo North to support affected residents, offering essential services and assistance following the town's isolation due to storm damage. Government Services Minister Gabrielle Williams is actively engaging with telecommunication companies to address these challenges, with further discussions scheduled.
The events highlight the urgent need for comprehensive measures to ensure the reliability and resilience of critical infrastructure in the face of extreme weather events.