Friday: 2:30pm: Around 350 homes in the Upper Hunter and Lower Mid North Coast remain without power as supply restoration efforts carry over into their fourth day.
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"It is anticipated this number will be reduced to fewer than 100 by the end of today, with full restoration targeted for close of business tomorrow (Saturday)," an Essential Energy spokesperson said.
"Efforts are now being concentrated in the Dungog/Limeburners Creek area, where the electricity network experienced significant damage in Monday’s wild weather.
"Workers are also focussing on carrying out single premise repairs and reconnections, including in and around Bulahdelah, Hawks Nest, Pindimar and North Arm Cove. This will continue into tomorrow.
Supply restoration is likely to be completed by late today at Patterson/Martins Creek, Booral, North Arm Cove, Allyn River and Cabbage Tree Mountain.
It is possible some customers may not have reported or may not be aware of damage to their property’s service line. If customers believe power should have been restored but apparently has not, they should contact Essential Energy on 13 20 80.
Thursday: 4.30pm CREWS have been progressively restoring power to homes in the lower Mid North Coast and Upper Hunter areas following Monday night's severe storm.
"Work is being prioritised to enable supply restoration to the largest number of customers as quickly as safety allows, however in some locations efforts are being hampered by inaccessibility and the extent of the damage," a spokesperson said.
"Good progress has been made today with power restored to around 1000 customers. About 1900 customers remain without power, primarily in the Pindimar, Clarence Town, North Arm Cove, Patterson, Stroud, Dungog and Booral areas.
"Essential Energy crews are hopeful of reducing this number significantly by later today, but are warning that some customers may still be without power by the weekend.
"A helicopter is again being used to patrol powerlines and identify damage in the worst hit areas."
Thursday 10am: ESSENTIAL Energy crews will continue power restoration efforts today following Monday night's severe storm front that caused widespread network damage across the region.
At the height of the storm, around 14,000 customers were without power from Pacific Palms to Tea Gardens across to Martins Creek and Gresford up to Stroud, Bulahdelah and Markwell.
This morning, around 3,000 homes remain without power as more than 140 crews members and vegetation contractors continue to assess the extent of the damage and carry out repairs.
Efforts today will be concentrated in Clarence Town, North Arm Cove, outskirts of Tea Gardens, Patterson, Stroud, Dungog and Booral areas to get vegetation cleared and powerlines re-strung.
A low flying helicopter will patrol lines throughout the morning around the Dungog area to locate any further faults or potential hazards to the network, however it is anticipated that customers in this area will not have their power restored until late tomorrow or into the weekend.
Wednesday 4:30pm: CREWS are continuing to restore supply to areas hit by Monday's storm, however, a number of customers are expected to remain without power overnight.
An Essential Energy spokesperson said currently in the Upper Hunter and lower Mid North Coast there are around 6,400 customers without power, down from more than 9,000 this morning.
Power has been progressively restored throughout the day in Bulahdelah, Pacific Palms, Smith's Lake and Markwell.
"Crews have made good inroads into repairs and restoration today with work planned in to the evening for several hours and then starting again at first light," the spokesperson said.
"More than 120 crews members are on the ground including vegetation contractors with more on the way and will continue to concentrate on the hardest hit areas in the south of the region.
"All going well it is hoped to have power restored to 1,100 customers in Hawks Nest and Tea Gardens this evening, 469 customers in the Wootton and Seal Rocks areas later tonight. Some customers in both the Pindimar and Martins Creek areas late this evening.
"If you live in the above areas and your power is not restored by 8pm, it is likely you will not have power overnight."
Areas to be without power overnight include: North Arm Cove and customers on the outskirts of Tea Gardens, Martins Creek area, Dungog area, Parts of Pindimar, Booral area and Clarence Town
"Damage to the network has been extensive and, as always, safety remains our number one priority – both for our workers and the public."
To report a supply interruption, fallen powerline or network damage, phone 13 20 80. Always stay at least eight metres away from damaged infrastructure. Never touch a fallen powerline or any object it is in contact with, as it may still be energised.
1:15pm: ESSENTIAL Energy has restored power to the Markwell area.
Wednesday 1pm: ESSENTIAL Energy has restored power to customers in the Pacific Palms, Seal Rocks and Coomba Park areas.
"110 crew members and vegetation contractors are working throughout the area with helicopter patrols to continue during the afternoon in the Stroud, Dungog and Bulahdelah areas," an Essential Energy spokesperson said.
"Large sections of powerline are down in the North Arm Cove area, the Tea Gardens area near The Rock and at Gresford with crews working in all locations to re-string lines and re-stand poles.
"Essential Energy thanks customers for their patience and assures the public that we are working as quickly as safety will allow to get the power back on, however, there will be some customers without supply overnight - details will be provided in a 4pm update."
For more information customers can call Essential Energy on 13 20 80,
Wednesday 11am: ESSENTIAL Energy crews have restored power to some parts of the Great Lakes.
"Bulahdelah town is back on and we hope to have the Markwell area back on by 2pm. There are a lot of dairy farms in this area so we have prioritised this and have crews on site making repairs at the moment," Essential Energy's Rachel Hussell said.
"Smiths Lake is also back on along with Coomba Park and Bluey's Beach.
"There are approximately 400 customers along the Pacific Highway between Bulahdelah and Cooloongolook still without supply. Crews are continuing to repair the line in this area.
"We have 110 crew members on the ground including vegetation contractors who are assisting with clearing vegetation from access tracks."
Wednesday April 22 - 9:30am: MORE than 9,000 homes are still without power following a wild storm which rolled through the lower Mid North Coast and Hunter region on Monday.
Essential Energy crews are continuing restoration efforts today. A low flying helicopter is currently flying over lines in the Tea Gardens area and will then make its way to Stroud and back over to Pacific Palms.
"This birds eye view of the network will assist in ensuring all damage to the network has been identified," a spokesperson said.
"Extra resources have arrived in the area and are working alongside local teams to re-string wires and replace damaged equipment, however restoration will be slow due to the extent of the damage.
"Flood waters and fallen trees remain the key obstacles to reaching some areas of the network to make repairs.
"9,200 customers remain without power. We are hopeful of restoring supply to a number of areas today including Tea Gardens and Pacific Palms yet this is dependent on what the helicopter locates during its patrols of the area."
Phone Essential Energy on 13 20 80 to report wires down.
Tuesday April 21 3pm: 12,000 homes remain without power in the lower Mid North Coast and Hunter areas following extensive damage to the network from storms overnight.
Major damage has been reported on lines that feed power to Bulahdelah and surrounding areas, Gloucester, Dungog, Stroud, Vacy and surrounding areas, Hawks Nest, Tea Gardens and Pacific Palms.
Large sections of powerline have been brought down by gale force winds and trees over lines with crews on site in the Pacific Palms, Bulahdelah and Tea Gardens areas making repairs where possible.
An Essential Energy spokesperson said access remains the largest challenge with rising flood waters around Dungog and vegetation across roads and access tracks preventing entry to many areas.
"Essential Energy is working closely with the SES to try and gain access to some areas and will continue to utilise helicopters to patrol lines and possibly fly resources and equipment in to some locations," the spokesperson said.
"Extra resources are travelling to the area today to assist with repairs. Despite crews working as quickly as safety will allow restoration will be slow due to the extensive damage. It is expected that the majority of customers affected by outages will be without power overnight with some areas possibly without power until the end of the week."
Safety remains Essential Energy's number one priority and we remind customers to stay at least 8 metres away from fallen powerlines and to call on 13 20 80 to report fallen lines.
Tuesday: 11:40am: ESSENTIAL Energy crews will commence helicopter patrols of powerlines damaged by the storm in the lower Mid North Coast and Hunter areas today (Tuesday April 21).
A spokesperson said by doing so crews will be able to better assess the damage to the network, specifically in areas that are not currently accessible by road.
Patrols will start in Bulahdelah and follow the high voltage powerlines to Booral, Stroud and Pacific Palms.
"Crews have started repairs to the network in Bulahdelah, Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest, however, access to many other areas where lines are down is still unavailable due to flood waters and vegetation over access roads," the spokesperson said.
"Essential Energy hopes to have the power restored to Bulahdelah by mid afternoon. Restoration times for other areas are not yet available and we ask customers to be prepared for no power overnight."
Essential Energy reminds customers to keep safety front of mind - stay at least eight metres away from fallen powerlines and call us on 13 20 80 to report lines down.
Tuesday morning: THOUSANDS of homes have been left without power following wild weather that swept through the lower Mid North Coast and Hunter regions overnight.
Essential Energy crews are assessing damage to the power network today.
A spokesperson said there are currently 13,600 homes without power in the following towns and all surrounding areas: Vacy, Parts of Dungog, the Gloucester region, Bulahdelah and surrounding areas, Stroud, Clarence Town, Pacific Palms, Blueys Beach and Elizabeth Beach.
"Major damage was sustained including large numbers of wires down and large trees over lines. Flood waters are causing access issues with some areas completely cut off to trucks and equipment," an Essential Energy spokesperson said.
"Extra resources are being called to the affected areas today to assist with repairs, however, we anticipate restoration to be slow with a large number of customers expected to be without power overnight."
Essential Energy reminds customers to keep safety front of mind. If you see fallen powerlines keep at least 8 metres away and contact Essential Energy on 13 20 80 to report wires down.