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The expression power surge is often used incorrectly to describe all variations in voltage. In precise terms, a surge is a large momentary increase in voltage, such as that caused by lightning, rather than a change in steady-state voltage.
Country Energy will endeavour to respond to these incidents as soon as possible, however delays in rectification can be caused by a range of factors including the need to respond to storm related supply interruptions and the restoration of supply in a prioritised, safe and orderly manner.
We advise customers to contact their insurers about these matters.
If damage arises due to other circumstances, Country Energy should be contacted and we will respond according to the individual circumstances.
When received, these claims will be assessed and you will be notified of our decision. Some claims may involve Country Energy’s insurers.
In low voltage networks, low supply voltages known as brownouts may occur if a distribution transformer loses supply to one of its high voltage terminals. These reduced voltages will continue until the problem is reported and a technician arrives to fix it.
When a brownout occurs, supply is not completely lost. A common manifestation of the brownout is dimming lights.
This safety mechanism forms a core part of Country Energy’s multi-million dollar power supply network and ensures the safety of people and property.
When purchasing such items, be sure to discuss the issue with the salesperson. Battery backed-up digital clocks and appliances - such as bread makers that ride through short outages - are examples of smarter technology now available.
Turning on or off large appliances can cause voltage levels to vary enough to produce this noticeable drop in light output.
When a large motor is started, it draws 5 to 10 times the amount of energy needed to run the piece of equipment. This increased demand can cause voltage levels to drop. The same situation in a neighbouring building can cause dipping in your building.
Some of the worst offenders include pressure pumps, air conditioners and air compressors. Other machinery with smaller motors, such as washing machines and refrigerators, can also cause problems, to a lesser degree.
Another cause of dipping is a fault on Country Energy’s power supply network. Usually, when this happens, it means one of our reclosers has temporarily switched off the power.
A safety device can be triggered by a number of things, including bats swinging across powerlines or a branch making contact. In these cases, dipping is sometimes experienced many kilometres from the fault and occasionally hundreds of kilometres away.
Another explanation for dipping is that the current voltage loading supplied to your home, from Country Energy’s supply network or your own installation, is too small to service your family or business energy needs.
Variable Speed Drives (VSD) are the best solution, or motors can be fitted with soft starters. The modern electronic soft starter is very effective in reducing the starting load demand and is generally more reasonably priced than a VSD, but without their other advantages.
Upgrading the capacity of your home’s electricity supply may also be an option. This could involve upgrading wiring from Country Energy’s supply point to the point of usage at your home.
Using large appliances at different times of the day, rather than all at once, can help overcome dipping. This is known as load management.
It's a good idea to install an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) for your computer so it won't be affected by dipping.
Dipping and other electricity supply interference problems may be caused by the electrical installation in a neighbouring building.
It is best to discuss the issue with your neighbour. Simple solutions could include your neighbour fitting soft starters to motors or using their large machinery at times that don’t affect others.
Country Energy only needs to be involved if you and your neighbour cannot resolve the issue. The NSW Service and Installation Rules require the use of electricity such that interference is not caused to other users. Therefore, we can demand that electricity users implement solutions to prevent problems caused by the use of large machinery.
If others share the section of network your home is fed from, Country Energy would generally fund the upgrade work. Any necessary work would be designed and implemented as soon as possible. Where the part of the supply network to be upgraded only feeds your home, the upgrade would be at your expense.
Safety switches are devices that automatically turn off the power supply to an electrical circuit when an unsafe condition is detected.
If something goes wrong, for example: you drop the hairdryer in the bath; a child puts a knife in a powerpoint; or you plug in a faulty appliance, a safety switch ensures your family and property are protected. Some models have built-in overload protection to safeguard your home or business if too many appliances are in use at any one time.
Electricians can install switchboard and powerpoint safety switches.
If it still won't reset, you should unplug all electrical appliances and try again.
If, after doing this, it still won’t reset, you should call an electrician to find the source of the problem.
If the safety switch does reset after unplugging all appliances, one of them is likely to be faulty. Plug in the appliances one at a time until you find the one that activates the safety switch.
*Note: Every electrical appliance leaks a very small amount of current. This inherent leakage is more common in equipment involving water or vapour, e.g. the kettle, iron or frypan.
Reclosers
Country Energy’s safety devices are very similar to home safety switches and work on the same principle. The most common device is a recloser - it re-closes a circuit.
Following a set period of time - anywhere between one and 10 seconds - it will automatically attempt to re-close the circuit. If it senses the fault has cleared, power is restored. If it still senses the fault, it will, after several tries, shut the power off, requiring our technicians to identify the cause, rectify it and reset the recloser, allowing power to be restored.
Thanks to recloser technology, the majority of prolonged outages are averted.
A Small Price To Pay
When you consider incidents like a car crashing into a power pole, or
powerlines being ripped down by a tree during a storm, you can appreciate
how important reclosers are in protecting people from harm.
Our power supply network is designed to put safety ahead of a continuous power supply. So, next time you arrive home to flashing clocks, spare a thought that this may mean someone, or their property, is safe because a recloser has operated. Having to reset the clocks is a small price to pay for keeping our community safe.
Beware
Despite the presence of reclosers, if you see fallen powerlines, assume they are still live. Stay clear and direct others to keep a safe distance until Country Energy technicians fix the problem.
Trees contacting powerlines and direct lightning strikes are the major causes of short outages.
Country Energy’s supply network is protected and maintained to minimise the effects of lightning, including the use of high-voltage *lightning arrestors.
We also have an ongoing vegetation management program, but the problem of trees near overhead powerlines requires co-operation between Country Energy and the community. Landowners shouldn’t plant trees near powerlines and may be responsible for costs associated with tree trimming if branches grow too close or interfere with delivery of reliable supply.
The occasional short outage can be considered normal. When they become excessive, Country Energy needs to investigate and identify ways to reduce them.
* Lightning arrestors act as surge diverters that redirect discharged electrical energy to the ground. This protects against damage to the network, particularly in storm-prone areas that are most susceptible to lightning strikes.
Even though the network is designed and maintained to minimise blackouts, there are certain circumstances beyond our control, such as birds and animals contacting powerlines, vandalism, car accidents, storms and lightning damaging poles and wires, or trees falling on powerlines.
If a constant power supply is critical to your business operations or day-to-day life, it is wise to install a back-up power supply.
While many people accept the occasional inconvenience of a blackout, a back-up power supply is a smart risk management measure. The loss of important computer data or production capacity can justify the expense.
An electrician will also be able to provide advice and quotations to install such equipment.
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