Stay electricity safe this summer

With extreme weather events often occurring during the warmer months, information is being distributed to people living and working in Jemena’s electricity network area telling them how they can remain safe in the event of a summer power outage.

Homes and businesses across the Jemena electricity network in north-west Melbourne will receive summer safety information direct to their letterboxes or via email or SMS, depending on their communication preferences, explains Jemena’s General Manager Customer and Commercial Usman Saadat. 

“We’ll be distributing summer safety information to all 360,000 customers across our network over the coming weeks. This year, we’re changing the way we send out this information to our customers. 

“We know that, increasingly, people prefer to communicate with us via digital channels, so for the first time, some customers will receive our summer safety information via email and SMS. If we don’t have your current email or phone number, you’ll receive the same information direct to your letterbox,” he said.

Mr Saadat said Jemena wants to ensure that the community stay safe in the event of an unplanned power outage over the summer.

“We’re committed to doing everything possible to ensure safe and reliable electricity supply. However, weather events during the summer months, such as storms or bushfires, can cause the power to go out.

“If your power does go out unexpectedly, you can stay informed by visiting our website or calling us on 131 626. If your mobile number is listed on your electricity account with your energy retailer, you’ll automatically receive SMS outage notifications from us.

“Our network is monitored 24 hours a day, so most supply interruptions are automatically identified by our control centre. Crews are on standby 24 hours a day to respond to any outage, with extra support available at times of extreme weather conditions,” he said.

Key tips to stay safe during an unplanned electricity outage

• If you are in a life threatening situation, call 000
• Check your switchboard to see if your safety switch has turned off. If you are not confident doing this yourself, please call us on 131 626
• After ensuring lights and appliances are switched off, leave one light switched on so you know when the power comes back on.
• Use your mobile phone to stay up-to-date via our Electricity Outage Map: www.jemena.com.au/power-out  
• Are you an Electricity Life Support customer? Ensure you have an up-to-date contingency plan ready to implement in the event of a power outage. Visit www.jemena.com.au/lifesupport for more
   

Visit https://jemena.com.au/electricity/safety/storms,-bushfires-and-summer-safety for more summer safety tips.