20 Sunshine Coast suburbs to have power restored by 6.30pm
MORE than 20 Sunshine Coast suburbs will have their power restored by 6.30pm, Energex has announced.
There were still 16,500 residents without power at 3.08pm, many in the Coast hinterland.
A statement released by Energex this morning said about 400 crews would be in the field today, with improved weather expected to assist restoration efforts.
Energex said the focus for restoration was on key infrastructure - hospitals/sewerage and water treatment; major roadways; schools without power and then urban and rural customer areas that can be accessed.
Crews will restore power to as many people as possible by prioritising work to repair the "backbone" of the electricity network today, with low-voltage, local power restoration will follow.
An Energex spokesman said there was little that could be done to restore power in some areas, as crews could not gain access to them.
"Where towns and properties are isolated by floodwater there is nothing we can do until the water subsides, as we simply can't get to them," the spokesman said.
"We understand people's frustration and thank them for their patience in very difficult circumstances."
Power was restored to 12,000 Coast homes yesterday as Energex battled an enormous task statewide.
The current workload is bigger than that faced in Brisbane after the 2011 floods, with damage along most of the the east coast.
