Your Tasmanian home could suddenly go dark while watching your favourite show or making dinner. Power cuts are unpredictable and often occur at inopportune moments. The electricity supply remains reliable, but extreme weather or technical problems could still result in power outages. Knowing how to effectively deal with power outages in Tasmania will reduce their negative impacts, so read on for essential coping strategies.
What is a power outage?
A blackout is when there is a loss of power in a specific area. This can happen in homes, businesses, or places like hospitals and transport systems. These places will be without electricity. Sometimes, Tasmanians can cause power outages. This can be because of bad weather or equipment failure. For example, a strong storm in 2016 caused many power outages in some parts of Tasmania.
Power outage duration ranges from minutes to weeks, and depending on the power outage causes, outages can affect individual buildings or entire areas. There are also three outages: planned outages for grid maintenance, unplanned outages due to unexpected faults or natural disasters, and rotating outages to prevent grid overloading.
What are impacts and effects of power outage in Tasmania?
Power outages in Tasmania can significantly affect the rest of the country. So, let’s look at the main things that would happen if there was a blackout in Tasmania.
Disruptions to Healthcare Services
Power outages can significantly impact healthcare services. Hospitals and clinics need electricity to keep equipment running, such as ventilators and monitors. Without electricity, these devices won’t work correctly, which could put patients’ lives at risk.
Economic Losses
Various industries, like manufacturing and service industries, need electricity to keep going every day. If there’s a power cut, factories might have to close, and service industries might not be able to do their job correctly, which means less money. Power interruptions can cause problems with production, leading to economic losses.
Infrastructure Damage
Power interruptions can cause other infrastructure problems. For example, the water supply system needs electricity to power the pumps, so the water supply will be disrupted if there’s a power cut. Traffic signals also fail during power outages, making traffic chaotic and increasing the risk of accidents.
Inconvenience to Residents
Tasmania power outages can be a real pain for people. Without electricity, you can’t do basic things like cook, heat, or cool your home. And if the power’s off for a while, you must run out of stuff ASAP because you can’t refrigerate or heat your food.
Energy Supply Crises
Power interruptions are a sign of more general problems with the energy supply, like a lack of energy or old infrastructure. Governments and the people in charge need to revisit energy policies and encourage a wider range of energy sources to make the energy supply more reliable and sustainable.
How do I report Tasmania power outages?
To report a power outage in Tasmania, follow these steps:
Step 1: Check the Outage Map
Look at the TasNetworks website to see if your area is affected and the cause of the outage. You can find this on the live outage map.
Step 2: Submit a Report
If there is an outage, please report it online. Enter the location, and TasNetworks will review your report. If necessary, they will send staff to help. They will contact you if they need more information.
Step 3: Call for Emergencies
If you need to report a problem with electric shocks, downed or low-hanging wires, or life-support equipment, call 132 004 immediately.
Additional Information
- You can call TasNetworks’ emergency hotline on 1300 360 315, which is open 24 hours a day.
- TasNetworks provides real-time power restoration updates, including estimated restoration times and affected areas.
- Check their online outage dashboard for real-time status updates.
How to respond to a power outage in Tasmania?
Before
- Develop an Emergency Plan: Develop a complete emergency plan that includes how to safely evacuate people, how to contact emergency services, medical protocols, who has what job to do, and ways to keep in touch.
- Assemble an Emergency Kit: Make sure you’ve got a family emergency kit with everything you’d need if the power goes out. Here are some ideas for what to put in it:
- A radio you can power with batteries or hand-winding
- Torches or other battery-powered lighting
- Backup batteries and chargers
- Important contact phone numbers
- A first aid kit and essential medication
- A gas barbecue for outdoor cooking
- Non-perishable food and water
- Utensils and manual can openers
- Invest in Backup Power Solutions: The best way to prepare for an emergency or a power cut is to have a backup power source. You could invest in a home backup generator or a portable power station, which can provide the necessary electrical support for your home. A solar generator is a better option than a traditional oil-fired generator. It is safer than a traditional fuel generator and draws energy from the sun to produce clean, endless power that provides safe backup power for essential tools and appliances
During
- Stay Informed: Use a radio powered by batteries or wound by hand to receive the latest updates from your local authorities.
- Report the Outage: To stay safe, contact TasNetworks first to find out what’s happening, report the outage and get updates.
- Conserve Battery Power: You can extend the life of your battery by not using your electronic devices for things like social media and games.
- Utilize Backup Power: If you have a portable power station, such as the EcoFlow DELTA Pro Portable Power Station, you can use it to power appliances or devices like fridges, routers, etc. The DELTA Pro has a capacity of 3.6 kWh and an AC output of 3,600 to power most household devices. It can also be recharged using solar power, so if there is no electricity, it can be replenished using the sun.
- Food Safety: Avoid opening your fridge and freezer too much, and keep them closed when you can. This will help keep food fresh, and keeping the doors shut will help perishables last longer.
- Disconnect appliances and electronics: When the power goes out, turn off all your electrical appliances, such as stoves, TVs, computers, heaters, and cooking equipment, to avoid any damage when the power comes back on. But leave a light on to see when the power will return. Also, clear away any clutter near appliances that could cause a fire, like paper towels.
After
- Inspect Appliances: When the power’s back on, check all appliances for damage before using them.
- Restock Emergency Supplies: Make sure you have enough of everything in your emergency kit in case of another power cut.
- Review and Update Emergency Plans: Check that your emergency plans work well and make any necessary changes to deal with any problems that arise during the outage.
Conclusion
Power outages can be a real pain, but if you prepare for power outages in advance, you can make it through safely. You can prepare by assembling an emergency kit and buying a backup power solution. This will help you deal with any unexpected power outage in Tasmania. These strategies will help you stay in control and keep life running smoothly, whether the power is out for a short time or longer.
FAQs
What is the first thing you do when the power goes out?
If you’re experiencing a power outage, the first thing to do is check outside to see if the circuit breaker has tripped. This will help you to determine whether your home is the only one affected. Then, it’s a good idea to inform the power supplier about the outage and unplug any electrical appliances you don’t need.
Can you take a shower during a power outage?
Yes, you can take a shower during a power outage. But if you’ve got an electric water heater, you might have to wait a little longer for that hot shower to come back on. But if you have a gas hot water system or a solar water heater, you won’t have to worry about that!
What should I do if I rely on medical equipment that needs electricity?
It’s always a good idea to keep your backup power source on standby in case of a sudden power outage that could cut off your medical equipment. If you don’t have a backup power source, it’s best to get medical help or head to the nearest hospital.