Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland has announced that AusNet are investing an immediate $5 million as their first step towards preventing the regular power outages happening across the region.
The news comes after Ms Cleeland held another meeting with AusNet in recent days to ensure that a timeline was set for improvements to the region’s energy reliability.
Ms Cleeland said the changes appeared positive, however time will tell if they are effective at alleviating the issues that locals in communities like Euroa, Violet Town, Longwood, and Nagambie are facing.
“Unfortunately, for at least three months our region had some of the worst power reliability in the state,” Ms Cleeland said.
“AusNet have indicated that they are extremely confident that the new changes will be successful in improving this situation and have confirmed that no costs will be transferred onto customers.
“The changes include the lowering of REFCL sensitivity, repairing defective equipment, animal proofing the lines, among many other immediate changes.
“One of the most rewarding new developments for the community is the launch of a $10m resilience fund, allowing residents and local businesses to recoup costs from the outages.
“This is the result of speaking out and fighting for better standards when we know we aren’t getting appropriate services.
“I encourage everyone to apply.”
Ms Cleeland said these changes were already in the process of being implemented, or were recently put in place, and improvement for the performance of the line was expected to be noticeable by November of this year.
“It is pleasing to see AusNet make the decision to commit to our region’s energy reliability with a substantial investment,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Within the space of two months our collective efforts have compelled AusNet and the State Government to improve the situation and invest back into our community.”
Ms Cleeland thanked the impacted communities for their tireless advocacy about the outages.
“I want to thank everyone in the region who contributed and shared your stories with me,” Ms Cleeland said.
“It was so important to hear from those impacted by these power outages and understand the very real effect this is having on households and businesses.
“It remains to be seen if these solutions will make a tangible difference to the current system and its unreliability, however I was glad to hear that AusNet are making changes and are taking the matter and the concerns of our community seriously,” Ms Cleeland said.
Ms Cleeland said she will also be working to ensure that the region is considered for the state government’s second round of community batteries.
