Endeavour Energy cancelled planned work on part of its Hawkesbury network due to today’s high temperatures.
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The power interruptions which were to take place today, Wednesday, January 18, included Windsor and South Windsor.
“We do this because we recognise temperature extremes can pose a risk to the safety and welfare of our customers, particularly the vulnerable and elderly,” an Endeavour spokesman said.
“When temperatures are forecast to be around 38 degrees, we ask crews to complete the work before 12 noon so that customers are not without power in the hottest part of the day – typically mid to late afternoon.
“We also give special attention to areas that include nursing homes and hospitals. We cancel planned interruptions or make alternative arrangements if the temperature is forecast to be greater than 37 in these areas.
“The network has coped extremely well under these extreme temperatures.
The spokesperson said the Hawkesbury transmission substation catchment comprised about 37,000 customers including the Windsor and Richmond areas and none had experienced heat related outages during the current heatwave between January 14 and 18.
“We typically see a peak in demand around 6.30pm when people are getting home, switching on their air conditioners to cool the house down and cooking dinner.”
The spokesman said despite the growth in solar panels they only assisted when the sun was shining and at present, given extended nature of heat into the night, solar had a minimum impact in offsetting our load because all homes were absorbing heat and ran air conditioners for extended hours.
Power supply queries can be made to 131 003.
