With some experts predicting that blackouts could plunge parts of the nation into darkness in the coming months, Compare the Market says now is the time for Australian households to prepare for the potential of a power cut.
Bushfires, hail, strong winds and flooding can cause power outages, as we’ve already seen this Spring across parts of Victoria, Southern New South Wales and Tasmania, but according to Compare the Market’s Head of Energy, Meredith O’Brien, they’re not the only factors at play.
“As the mercury starts to rise and the threat of thunderstorms and bushfires grows, it’s important to remember that blackouts can also occur when the sun is shining and there’s not a cloud in the sky,” Ms O’Brien said. “As we’ve seen in recent years, warmer weather can place increased demand on our electricity grid because we’re blasting our air conditioners more, running pool pumps more frequently and using more power to keep cool. The harsh reality is that sometimes there’s not enough supply to meet this increased demand.
“During those prolonged periods of hot weather or heat waves, distributors can switch parts of the grid off to share supply around.
“We also know that bushfires and flooding can cause transportation issues for coal, which is still used to generate power in parts of the country. It can also cause destruction of infrastructure, which can cause ongoing supply issues. We’re encouraging households to put a blackout plan in place now to minimise the effects if you experience a power cut in the coming months.”
To prepare, Ms O’Brien said every household should have a blackout plan ready – even if there’s not a storm cloud in sight. Here are her tips.
If you need life support equipment, let your energy retailer know now
Don’t wait until a power cut to inform your retailer that you require life support equipment, medical cooling devices or oxygen and dialysis machines.
“It’s really important to inform your retailer as soon as possible if you or anyone in your household requires life support equipment or if there have been any changes to devices in recent times,” Ms O’Brien said. “Retailers can arrange backup plans so these devices can be used normally and ensure you’re on a priority service to restore power if there’s a blackout. Remember that your health and safety are paramount, but retailers need to know this information to be able to help you.”
Prepare a physical list of important contacts and essential services
While most things these days are digital, you’ll want to keep a physical list of your important contacts, energy distributor and emergency services handy.
“A lot of people aren’t exactly sure who their point of contact should be when the power goes out, but it’s actually your energy distributor and not your energy retailer,” Ms O’Brien said. “You can find your distributor’s details on your energy bill under ‘faults and emergencies’. But make sure you have the right distributor for your area, as some states have multiple distributors.”
| State | Electricity Distributor | State | Electricity Distributor |
| New South Wales | Endeavour Energy Essential Energy Ausgrid | Victoria | Citipower Powercor Australia Jemena Ausnet Services United Energy |
| Australian Capital Territory | Evo Energy | Western Australia | Western Power Synergy Horizon Power |
| Queensland | Energex Ergon | South Australia | SA Power Network |
| Tasmania | TasNetworks | Northern Territory | Jacana Energy |
Prepare your blackout kit in advance
There’s nothing worse than scrambling for a torch or trying to locate a radio in the dark, so try and prepare a blackout kit as early as possible. These kits should include:
- A radio to listen out for important blackout and safety information from authorities
- Spare batteries for radios and torches
- Candles and matches
- Torches
- Portable chargers for phones, tablets and laptops
- A pocket wi-fi modem to access the internet for updates posted by authorities online and across social media.
“These seem like obvious things to have handy, but you’d be amazed at how many households don’t actually have a blackout kit,” Ms O’Brien said. “Consider leaving your kit in a special location in case you need it and let all members of your household know where to find this kit in case of an emergency. And, of course, check on the kit to ensure everything in it is in working order.”
Prepare bottled water and non-perishables
You never know how long the power will be out for or if the food in your fridge and freezer will spoil due to a lack of power. Similarly, without power, you may not be able to heat up food in your oven, on your stove, in your microwave or with your air-fryer.
“Ensure you have some bottled water handy and non-perishable food in case of an emergency,” Ms O’Brien said. “And, if you have a barbecue, check that you have enough gas if you want to purchase fresh food to cook straight away.
“It’s also a good idea to understand whether food spoilage is covered by your home and contents policy, as your energy retailer and distributor will likely not be responsible in the event of a power outage.”
Solar batteries could be beneficial – but there’s a catch
Homes equipped with a solar PV system and a solar battery may be able to store any unused solar power in the battery to use during a blackout.
“It’s vital to know that having a solar system and battery isn’t enough and there are dependencies to utilise this type of power if there’s a blackout at your property,” Ms O’Brien said. “For starters, you’ll need a battery that’s equipped with a specific backup function that can be used during blackouts, but this function isn’t available for all makes and models. Your home also needs to be configured to utilise the backup electricity function across the whole household and not specific circuits.”
You should never use a solar system during an electrical storm blackout, but if the power is cut due to a heatwave or demand issues, it could help keep your appliances powered.
“It’s important to also make note of your solar battery’s capacity, as there will be limits on how much power it can supply during a blackout,” Ms O’Brien said. You may choose to only power certain appliances or devices during a blackout to preserve the solar power you have stored.”
For more information, please contact:
Phillip Portman | 0437 384 471 | [email protected]
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