Roy Butler MP - "We now have a redundancy plan in place"

Member for Barwon Roy Butler MP and NSW Minister for Climate Change, Energy Environment & Heritage Penny Sharpe recently met with concerned community members in the Far West village of Silverton.

Located 25 kilometres north west of Broken Hill, Silverton is one of the many communities affected by rolling power failures, following storms on October 17.

"Penny Sharpe MLC and I have been out in Silverton to meet community members and the Silverton Village Committee to find out how we can help them recover from power outages," Mr Butler said.

"We heard about issues with small generators, broken appliances and the need for communications specific to their township.

"Thanks to all the locals and businesses who’ve shared their experiences with us over the past few days, in Broken Hill, Tibooburra, Milparinka, Packsaddle, White Cliffs, Wilcannia, Menindee and Silverton.

"We also joined NSW Police, Transgrid and Essential Energy at a daily media briefing on the situation."

Mr Butler said Transgrid has now erected its seventh and final replacement transmission tower, and thanks the "workers on the ground, who’ve been working around the clock."

"We now have a redundancy plan in place," he said.

"Portable generators can supply the whole Far West if the gas turbine generator fails, and there are spare generators, if one fails, we have others to put in.

Mr Bulter also said Transgrid’s main backup generator is now operational and Essential Energy’s generators are supplying townships.

AGL’s large solar battery is charging each day and discharging to supply customers in the evening peak.

He also said all schools have re-opened and 1,000 hampers are being delivered to Broken Hill, Wilcannia, Menindee and some smaller communities.

"2,000 grocery and fuel vouchers will be distributed via charities," he said.