August 29, 2019
Australia’s only electrical crew trained to work on live high voltage equipment will be paying a visit to Powerlink’s 275 kilovolt Woolooga substation next week.
Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said the 10-person crew was the only expert team of its kind in Australia.
“Doing maintenance while high voltage transmission equipment is still live is highly specialised work,” Dr Lynham said.
“It minimises power supply impacts on electricity customers because it reduces the need for planned outages.”
Powerlink is the only transmission utility in Australia to use live work techniques.
Live work specialists use a “hot stick”, a long insulated pole that extends several metres in the air with different attachments to complete maintenance tasks.
This ensures workers always maintain a safe working distance from any energised piece of equipment.
The crew will be at the 12-year-old Teebar substation near Maryborough this week, and Woolooga substation next week.
Powerlink spokesperson Gary Edwards said the live substation team was highly experienced.
“Powerlink crews have been carrying out live work for 18 years throughout Queensland to maintain the safety and reliability of the transmission network,” he said.
This year’s maintenance schedule will see live work being undertaken all over the state.
