Endeavour Energy is rolling out an off-grid power solution to a remote property owned by a South Coast couple who lost their home and all their belongings in the catastrophic Currowan bushfire earlier this year.
“This is the first time Endeavour Energy has installed a stand-alone power system (SAPS) to supply customers in its network area,” said Endeavour Energy’s General Manager Scott Ryan.
Charity workers Mark and Tracey Minton, of Duffys Lane, Kangaroo Valley, were this week thrilled to be the first to benefit from this advanced technology after Endeavour Energy connected power to their temporary home, a bus and makeshift work shed.
Mr Ryan said SAPS involved the installation of solar panels, batteries and a back-up generator that operate independently to the rest of the Endeavour Energy network.
“This is a game changer for our customers who live in remote areas. They deserve to have access to safe and reliable electricity regardless of where they live,” he said.
“Customers using SAPS will have the same continuous, high-quality power supply and will pay the same unit price for electricity charged by their retail energy supplier.”
Endeavour Energy has identified further sections of its network where, using this SAPS technology, it can provide customers with safer and more reliable power than the traditional poles and wires network.
“Customers suitable to be supplied power by SAPS are those living in remote and hard to access areas, many who live in areas prone to bushfires powered by long, overhead powerlines subject to regular interruptions,” Mr Ryan said.
“SAPS give customers the choice to decide the best way for how they receive a safe, reliable and affordable electricity supply.
“This system also has the potential to provide remote communities a more reliable power supply because customers are not affected by outages caused by falling trees, floods and wildlife.”
Mr Ryan said SAPS were a win for customers and a win for the business, as SAPS were often cheaper than rebuilding and maintaining poles and wires in remote and difficult to access locations.