MIRBOO North residents found their household appliances blowing up en masse last week when a high voltage power surge ripped through part of the town’s electricity network.
The Express has heard widespread reports of irreparable damage to appliances, smart meters and solar inverters across up to a third of the town, after power lines crossed in Wednesday’s gale-force winds.
According to electricity provider SP AusNet, the surge occurred when a 66,000 kiloVolt power line connected with a 22,000 kV line, leaving what local electricians have described as “extreme” levels of damage in its wake.
Electrician Damien Burnham said his phone had been running off the hook since Wednesday, estimating hundreds of homes had been affected.
“I’ve seen power surges before, but nothing this extreme – I’ve already seen a couple of switchboards with burnt out surge protectors, which were installed to resist this very type of event,” Mr Burnham said.
“I have seen air conditioners, televisions, hot water services go in this, it’s been a pretty big deal, I’ve had about 70 calls since this morning,” he said before noon on Friday.
“To top it off last night, lightning struck a transformer just north of the town in an area where they were still suffering from the initial surge.
“One woman in the estate there had already bought a new microwave after the (Wednesday) surge, and then the transformer is struck and blows up her brand new microwave.”
Mirboo North solar panel installer Andrew McCarthy said the affected power network supplied about a third of the town.
“This is about as bad as it can get for a network – when that higher voltage gets sent through it creates a massive surge so quick and violent that it manages to find its way past everyone’s circuit breakers,” Mr McCarthy said.
He said his home sustained about $5000 worth of damage in the surge, he had seen numerous fried smart meters, and already had 15 customers calling to replace solar panel inverters damaged beyond repair.
“The inverters will have to wait – I’ve just been focusing on getting people back on power and hot water services back on track, which mostly lost their heat pumps in the surge.”
Grand Ridge Brewery brewing manager Phil Rutjens said the brewery’s operations had been affected after conveyors lost their variable speed drives in the surge.
“I’ve heard of some pretty gnarly stuff happening all over town,” Mr Rutjens said.
Mirboo North resident Cherry Prior said she thought the incident was a regular power blackout, until the power came back on late in the afternoon and she discovered she had lost three heaters in the incident.
“I flicked the switch to turn one heater on and it just went ‘bam’ like a cap gun going off in my ear – it gave me one hell of a fright,” Ms Prior said.
“I’ve had those three heaters for less than 12 months, so it’s been a pretty expensive little surge.”
Ms Prior said SP AusNet officers were quick to respond to the incident, door knocking households and handing out compensation claim forms to affected customers.
An SP AusNet spokesperson apologised for the inconvenience caused, and said any customers wishing to make compensation claims should phone 1300 360 795.
lnelson@lvexpress.com.au
