Sparks over power cuts

By Tania Martin
TWO Emerald bed and breakfast owners have called for something to be done about a continuous stream of power interruptions in the past 12 months.
Helen Stewart who owns a bed and breakfast in Caroline Crescent Emerald said she had recorded 64 power outages since January 2005.
Ms Stewart said she moved to the hills just over 18 months ago from Berwick and that she couldn’t believe the difference in the power supply.
Ms Stewart said if she knew what the power supply was like in the hills she would never have started a business in Emerald. She has been keeping a record for the past 12 months on the number of outages which has been as simple as keeping print-outs from her fax machine.
“Every time the power comes back on the fax machine prints out a report and I have kept them as proof of the outages,” she said.
Ms Stewart said that on many occasions she has been making breakfast for customers when the power has gone out leaving her with no option but to find an alternative breakfast.
Ron and Nardia from Fernhem Cottages on Emerald-Monbulk Road, Emerald, who have asked not to use their surnames, said they are sick and tired of the number of power outages in the area.
Nardia also a B&B owner, has recorded the number of outages since December 2004 using a similar system to Ms Stewart.
She keeps all her receipts from her EFTPOS machine which prints out every time the power comes back on.
Since December 2004, Nardia has recorded more than 65 outages and is concerned over the continued inconvenience to her guest seach time the power goes out.
Nardia said it was only recently that she had a guest ring her up and abuse her for the power going out.
“He told me he was not paying good money to sit in the dark which I understand but it was out of my control,” she said.
Spokeswoman for SP AusNet the power utility company Emma Daniell-Edwards said a review of the area would be undertaken to ensure the power was operating at optimal performance.
Ms Daniell-Edwards said that 80 per cent of the power cuts to those properties were brief interruptions.
She said the ‘flickers’ occur as power system’s SP AusNet resets itself after an electricity cable is damaged by wildlife ofrfalling branches.
“A flicker is the result of our safety system kicking in and switching power, preventing a sustained outage,” she said.
Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato said her inquiries had identified 51 recorded outages at Fernglades on Menzies, and all but 11 of those outages lasted a few seconds.
Ms Lobato said this shows that the electricity system is working properly.
Ms Lobato said the only way to stop the frequent interruptions would be to either put in an underground power supply or by removing trees and animals, which is not an option for those who choose to live in the area.
Monbulk MP James Merlino was contacted about the issue but he was unable to comment as he was getting married.