Electricity distributor AusNet has spent almost $60 million on vegetation management and maintenance programs in the last 12 months, to prepare the network ready for summer.

AusNet Executive General Manager Distribution, Andrew Linnie, said it’s important that the network is ready for severe weather events.

“This year in the Wodonga region our asset inspectors, who assess AusNet’s infrastructure to ensure it’s safe, completed 5,065 pole inspections with an additional 4,981 poles inspected by the helicopter team, a total of 10,046 poles,” Mr Linnie said.

“This work resulted in the identification and completion of 273 maintenance jobs.

“Our vegetation team, who are responsible for keeping trees away from powerlines, assessed 25,931 spans (spans being the area between two poles) in Wodonga and surrounding areas, identifying maintenance work that was undertaken on 4,208 spans.

“This work is essential to help keep the network and the community safe.”

Preparation work comes following a warning from Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) last week for the community to prepare for warmer temperatures and an increase in fire activity across the state this summer.

EMV advised that a lack of rainfall has resulted in an increased chance of fires across most of western and northeastern Victoria and parts of greater Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula and Southwest Gippsland.

“Summer is a particularly challenging time for electricity customer,” Mr Linnie said.

“On top of the bushfire risk, summer often brings with it intense thunderstorms that can damage infrastructure.”

Every summer, AusNet undertakes an awareness campaign to encourage Victorians to be power prepared and provides outage and energy saving tips so that people can better deal with the impact of potential power outages.

AusNet is particularly focused on helping customers plan for summer storms, which are becoming more frequent and severe as Victoria’s climate changes.

AusNet is encouraging all Victorians to follow the tips on its website www.ausnetservices.com.au/powerprepared on how to be power prepared.

“One of the most important things customers can do is provide their contact details to their electricity retailer,” Mr Linnie said.

“The retailer will then pass these details on to AusNet, so that we can contact them during outages and emergencies.

“We also recommend customers save or bookmark AusNet’s Outage Tracker on their phone or computer at www.outagetracker.com.au. 

This article appeared in the Corryong Courier, 5 December 2024.