Network Outage Review
The Tasmanian Government is committed to enhancing the resilience of our state in the face of extreme weather events. In response to the significant impact of the August 2024 weather event, an independent review will be conducted to ensure we are better prepared for the future.
Event Overview
In August 2024, an extreme weather event caused widespread damage to the electricity distribution network across the state, particularly in Tasmania's North and North-West. The storm left over 47,000 customers without power at its peak, requiring more than 200,000 supply restorations. Unfortunately, some households and businesses were without power for extended periods of time.
Independent Review
The review will be led by Rhys Edwards from RDME, a seasoned leader with extensive experience, including roles as Non-Executive Director of Aurora and the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre, and former Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
Key Objectives
To inquire into and make recommendations in respect to the operational responses to the event, including contingency planning, timely and effective management of the incident, restoration of supply and response and recovery activities to affected households, primary producers, businesses and communities.
Timeline and Outcomes
The review, led by Mr Edwards, with support from a Secretariat within the Department of State Growth’s Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania (ReCFIT) division, is expected to deliver findings and recommendations by March 2025. These outcomes will guide efforts to strengthen Tasmania’s resilience and response capability for future severe weather events.
A period of extreme weather in August 2024 resulted in storm damage to the electricity and telecommunications networks causing widespread outages across Tasmania. At its peak, over 47,000 electricity customers were disconnected, with in excess of 200,000 restorations of supply being undertaken. Some customers remained without power for extended periods of time.
An independent review has been established to inquire into and make recommendations in respect to the operational responses to the event, including contingency planning, timely and effective management of the incident, restoration of supply and response and recovery activities to affected households, primary producers, businesses and communities.
The review is to include findings and recommendations on:
a. Key causes of the electricity network outages.
b. TasNetworks’ organisational capacity to respond to severe weather events, including:
- the adequacy of TasNetworks’ staffing levels to respond to the severe weather event;
- TasNetworks’ recruitment and retention strategy for staff, particularly those involved in reconnection after outages;
- regulatory or other barriers to TasNetworks’ investment in staff development, training and disaster resilience;
- other factors that affected the ability for TasNetworks’ to respond, including the availability of other resources.
c. TasNetworks’ procedures to identify and prioritise the restoration needs of its customers.
d. TasNetworks’ communication with affected customers after the severe weather event, including:
- the adequacy of the tools and systems to communicate proactively with customers and external authorities, including SMS, call centres and effective information platforms and services, such as outage trackers.
e. TasNetworks’ interface with the community, local government and other agencies including:
- involvement and participation in the Emergency Management Framework;
- the level of engagement with other agencies involved in support to the community during severe weather events;
- the successful coordination and delineation of roles and responsibilities.
If necessary, the Review can identify a limited number of priority areas for further detailed investigation.
The Review should facilitate direct input from the community and stakeholders, including written submissions.
The Review should also consider post-incident review reports prepared by relevant agencies involved in the response to the Extreme Weather Event. The Review should provide a final report to the Minister by 31 March 2025 with the report to be made public within 2 weeks of being received.
The Review will be supported by a Secretariat provided by Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania (ReCFIT), in the Department of State Growth.