The Challenge• Frequent loss of power due to network outages, which take time to identify, repair and replace.
• Critical facilities, hospitals, universities, airports, shopping centres and factories are all affected.
• The sheer size of the network area and the lack of SCADA coverage means that locating a fault can take a lot of time in rural areas.
• The environment is harsh and any overhead power line fault could cause a bushfire, so they must be localised, disconnected and isolated as quickly as possible.
• This presents a risk to public safety, as a large proportion of the network relies on overhead conductors.