Ergon Power Outage Guide with Preparations & Strategies

Understanding Ergon Power Outages 

One important Australian utility company, Ergon Power, is essential to guaranteeing a steady electricity supply to households and businesses. However, unanticipated events, such as natural catastrophes or human mistakes, can cause power outages, emphasising the importance of being ready and knowledgeable. 

To help locals and businesses better understand the dynamics and take the necessary precautions to ensure safety and preparation, we will examine the reasons for Ergon power outages and their frequency in this post.

Reasons for Power Outages

Natural disasters and weather-related occurrences are significant contributors to the cause of Ergon power outages. These incidents require a closer look at their impacts because they can significantly affect the power supply's dependability.

Natural Reasons:

Severe weather-related power outages are frequently caused in Ergon's service area by thunderstorms, high winds, and lightning strikes, among other natural disasters.

Vigorous electrical activity from thunderstorms can lead to equipment malfunctions or short circuits in power lines. Power distribution network outages may arise from trees and other debris falling onto power lines due to strong winds, a feature of cyclones and gust fronts.

Fires and floods are natural calamities that can seriously affect power infrastructure. Strong winds and dry conditions can create wildfires that destroy transformers, electricity lines, and other infrastructure. 

Floodwaters have the potential to drown substations and other crucial components of the electrical infrastructure, making them inoperable. When fire and flood combine, it might be more difficult for utility companies to restore power quickly.

Human-Made Reasons:

Although natural disasters can also create power outages, human activity is a significant factor in power supply disruptions. These human-caused variables can take many forms, including theft or vandalism occurrences, accidents involving construction sites, and equipment malfunctions.

Ergon Power Outage Contact

Look out the window or call your friends from the safety of your own home to find out if the power outage is affecting your area or if it's affecting more than one.

If the outage affects many people, use the Ergon Outage Finder to learn more about it and when the power will return.

If you have "brown out," low power, partial supply, or if your lights are dull or flickering, don't touch your switchboard or anything metal in your home. Unplug and turn off machines to make getting to the power outlets easier. Call Ergon immediately at 13 16 70, every day of the week.

If an electrical device or water faucet gives you tingles or shocks, call Ergon immediately at 13 16 70, seven days a week. To have a licenced electrician look at your wires, you should contact one.

If you see or hear something that could help them figure out what's wrong, like a big bang or power lines that have fallen or are hanging low, stay away and call Ergon right away at 13 22 96, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Your information will usually help Ergon's emergency crews find the problem and get the power back on more quickly.

How Do You Prepare for A Ergon Power Outage?

There is more to being ready for an Ergon power outage than merely keeping a flashlight close at hand. Proactive planning is the secret to surviving power disruptions with the most minor inconvenience.  

Ensure your emergency bag has nonperishable food, flashlights, and batteries. Assess and get your house ready. Review your emergency preparation plan regularly and ensure everyone knows what to do if the lights go out.

Step 1: Prepare for Emergency Kit  

Put together a first aid kit, flashlights, batteries, candles, nonperishable food, and bottled water in an emergency kit. This kit must be stored in a specified area and easily accessible.

During a power outage, no one wants to run around the dark house looking for needed things. If the power goes out, assemble a simple first aid kit and tool kit beforehand.

When there is a power outage, your first line of defence is an emergency kit. Make sure your emergency supplies are up to date, in good functioning order, and suitable for ingestion when the time comes by routinely inspecting and replenishing them.

Cleaning products and hand sanitisers can help you stay healthy and avoid getting sick. Always keep screwdrivers, wrenches, and other tools in the tool kit if the power goes out and you need to fix something.

Home backup power tools, like Jackery Solar Generators, should be on hand to provide extra power for a certain amount of time. This helps us meet our backup power and lighting needs when the power goes out. Allows essential gadgets like cell phones and Wi-Fi routers to be charged. So, even if the power goes out, we can still use these things and talk to each other.

Step 2: Assess The Vulnerabilities in Your House

Every home has specific vulnerabilities that can become apparent during a power loss, regardless of age or construction. It's critical to comprehensively inspect your home to identify vulnerable places in an electrical blackout.

This might include areas that turn completely dark without artificial lighting, posing a safety risk, or rooms that are overly dependent on electric ventilation, making them stuffy during a summer power loss. Consider other outside elements, such as trees that might fall on electricity lines or the house's closeness to flood zones.

Through proactive identification and remediation of these vulnerabilities, homeowners can reduce risks and guarantee a safer environment during unplanned power outages.

Step 3: Plan for Communication

Create a communication strategy with friends and family during a blackout. Ascertain who should contact whom and where a meeting should be held if needed. Consider purchasing portable chargers and make sure your mobile gadgets are always charged.

Step 4: Keep A Backup Generator

Make a detailed list of all the power you need. It's essential to plan for things that need power and things that don't, like communication, lights, cooking, medical devices and medicines that need to stay cold, and garage doors, locks, and lifts.

Make a plan for your medical needs with the help of your doctor or the people who make medical gadgets. Save money and time when the power goes out so that batteries last longer and critical services keep going as smoothly as possible. 

Buy backup power sources like the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus or 1000 Pro to ensure you always have power when the power goes out. These small solar generators get power from the sun and make clean, endless electricity. They give essential tools and appliances a safe backup power source. 

The Jackery Solar Generator has an extensive lithium battery, several AC outlets, and USB ports, making it a valuable and adaptable power source in various scenarios.

A portable solar generator is essential to a disaster plan because it ensures that necessary electronics like medical devices, communication devices, and lighting systems always have power, even if it goes out for a long time.

Step 5: Understand Your Medical Requirements

Discuss a power outage strategy with your physician for electrically powered medical equipment and chilled medications. Learn how long prescriptions can be kept at higher temperatures and receive instructions for any drugs essential to life.

Step 6: Measures for Home Safety

Install surge protectors to protect delicate electronic equipment from power surges when the electricity is back on.  Secure bulky furniture and items that could topple over in an earthquake or other natural disaster. Learn the locations of your main gas and water shutoff valves and your circuit breaker.

You can ensure your home is secure and comfortable during an Ergon power outage by taking the precautions listed here. Recall that you may have the peace of mind you require during power outages with a dependable backup power option like Jackery. 

During a blackout, generators can supply vital electricity to your house, enabling the operation of crucial medical equipment, lights, and refrigerators.

Another sustainable choice is installing solar panels with battery storage, which provides a renewable energy source that can power your house off the grid. To lessen your reliance on power, look into non-electric options for cooking and heating, such as propane heaters or wood stoves.

Jackery Solar Generators for Ergon Power Outages

The Jackery Solar Generator can be used as a backup power source if the power goes out, making life much easier when you don't have control.    

When there is a power outage, the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus and Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro will keep you and your family running. Both comprise SolarSaga solar panels and portable power stations from the Explorer series.

The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro has a 1002Wh battery, which can power 93% of your household appliances.

On the other hand, the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus has a battery that can be expanded from 2 kWh to 12 kWh, which is enough to power 99% of your machines. For this reason, the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro and 2000 Plus are better choices for extra power at home.

Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro

Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro combines SolarSaga 80W solar PV panels with the Explorer 1000 Pro power station. It is a remarkably quiet generator, with noise levels as low as 46 dB. It has a lifespan of over ten years and can be fully recharged in just 1.8 hours. This device's dual 100W PD design provides a consistent and reliable power supply, ensuring that all necessary appliances remain operational during a power loss. 

The Explorer 1000 Pro power station is a rechargeable device with a capacity of 1002Wh. This allows it to power various appliances, including a television, CPAP machine, E-bike, refrigerator, and other devices, covering around 93% of commonly used equipment.

In addition, it is equipped with two 100W PD connectors and two USB-C ports, ensuring reliable and fast charging for various devices such as smartphones, cameras, and more. The MPPT solar charge technology guarantees an efficiency of 99%. Furthermore, this system supports recharging techniques through walls, vehicles, and solar recharge. 

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus

The Solar Generator 2000 Plus by Jackery significantly enhances the available choices for portable electricity with its exceptional performance. With its substantial capacity and formidable power output, this device can provide electricity for basic home needs. 

Adding battery cells to the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus enhances its capacity from 2 kWh to 12 kWh, leading to a significant transformation in providing backup power for households.

The Explorer 2000 Plus has a maximum power output of 3000W, 30% greater than other 2 kWh models with similar specifications. The bulk of critical household appliances are powered gadgets. Although the Solar Generator 2000 Plus is commonly used, it can achieve a complete charge within 6 hours by utilising six SolarSaga 100W solar panels. The power source achieves self-sufficiency by harnessing solar energy rather than relying on the power grid for charging.

The supplementary battery pack can be recharged using solar panels, offering increased versatility while enhancing charging efficacy and reducing time consumption. Jackery Solar Panels have an impressive solar conversion efficiency of up to 25%, generating more energy during its lifespan.

What to Do During An Ergon Power Outage?

Power outages can disturb our everyday routines, but don't return to your normal when the lights come back on! Take care as you proceed to protect your belongings and yourself. Here are some safety guidelines to remember after the lights go back on because there may be potential hazards.

Step 1: Safety First

Avoid downed power lines and report them right once. To keep food colder for longer, avoid opening refrigerators or freezers. Moreover, because candles might catch fire, use flashlights or battery-operated lighting instead of candles.

Keep a battery-powered radio close to keep track of updates, particularly in severe weather. Ensure your smartphones are always charged, and consider getting a portable charger. 

Step 2: Examine The Electrical System

It's critical to determine whether a power outage is localised or widespread. Start by looking at your surroundings. Do the lamps still shine? Do the homes around appear to be impacted? If the blackout seems limited to your home, there's probably an internal problem. To promptly resolve the issue, attempt to access your fuse box and reset the circuit breaker.

Besides, it's essential to control your desire for do-it-yourself fixes if you've tried to restore electrical stability independently and are unsure of the issue's nature. Speak with a certified electrician instead. Never forget that safety should always come first when it comes to electricity.

Step 3: Call Ergon Utility Immediately

Keep a safe distance and contact Ergon immediately, seven days a week, if you hear anything that can help identify the issue, such as a loud bang or low-hanging or fallen powerlines. Your information will frequently help their emergency response teams identify the problem and quickly restore electricity.

• 1316 70: Don't touch your switchboard or anything metal in your house if you're experiencing dull or flickering lights, "brown out," low voltage, or partial supply. Turn off and unplug appliances if power outlets are conveniently accessible. Contact Ergon right now at 13 16 70, available seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

• 1316 70: Call Ergon immediately at 13 16 70, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, if you get shocks or tingles from an electrical appliance or water faucets. You might need to contact a certified electrical contractor to have your wiring checked.

• 1322 96: Stay well away and give Ergon a call at 13 22 96 as soon as possible, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, if you hear or see anything that can help identify the issue, such as a loud bang or fallen or low-hanging power. Your information will frequently help their emergency response teams identify the problem and quickly restore electricity.

Step 4: Notice Some Sensitive Appliances

During a power outage, protecting your devices and electrical appliances is essential. It's best to unplug any equipment and turn off your devices to prevent voltage spikes, sometimes called power surges.

Sensitive gadgets may be harmed or have their lives shortened by these surges. By regulating the abrupt surge of electricity that happens when one of these power surges occurs, surge protectors can assist in defending against them. These devices are gatekeepers that absorb and reroute excess electricity from your electronics.

Remember to turn on your devices gradually, starting with the most necessary, as soon as the power is restored. This methodical technique guarantees the longevity of your devices and appliances while reducing the possibility of overloading your home's electrical system.

Step 5: Use Generator Safely

Generators can be extremely helpful lifesavers during a blackout, offering a backup electricity supply to keep homes lit and necessary appliances operating. Nonetheless, their authority entails obligations.

First and foremost, to avoid carbon monoxide buildup inside your home, place generators outside and away from windows. Ensure the generator is distant from possible water sources and on a firm, dry surface.

Use heavy-duty extension cords made especially for outdoor use when connecting equipment. Avoid hooking the generator straight into your house's primary electrical system without a professionally fitted transfer switch, as this can result in potentially hazardous backfeeding. Check the generator's fuel levels frequently, and never add gasoline while operating.

A solar generator, like Jackery Solar Generator, is safer and quieter than gasoline or diesel generators. Also, the solar generator has enough power to charge essential appliances.

Ergon Power Outage FAQs

The following are the frequently asked questions about the Ergon power outage in Australia:

1. What happens if the power runs out?

During a power outage, you could not access running water, hot water, lighting, heating, or air conditioning. You will also be without phone service if you only have a cordless phone. You might be unable to watch news broadcasts if your radio is not crank-operated or battery-operated.

2. How do I find out why I have no power?

To find out if there is a problem with your wiring or an appliance, you can check your trip switches or fuses. If the fuses have blown or the trip switch is in the "off" position, you probably have a malfunctioning appliance or wiring issues.

3. How do I turn my power back on after an outage?

Turn the switch on and off twice to reset the primary breaker. Turn the switch on and leave it there. Go back inside your house to the breaker panel and turn each breaker back on one at a time. The power has now been restored in several cases.

Final Thoughts

Understanding Ergon power outages' origins, frequency, and impacts is crucial in a society where energy is indispensable in many aspects of our lives. 

Stay safe, and don't freak out when the power goes out. Clean up the mess and return to normal when the power turns on. Of course, the Jackery Solar Generators will save the day if the power goes out with higher capacity and portability.