Installation begins on new technology to improve reliability in Daylesford and surrounds

Electricity distributor Powercor is installing innovative technology to improve power reliability for homes and businesses in Daylesford and nearby towns ahead of the 2024-25 summer.

Powercor’s engineers have developed a solution to reduce some power outages to just seconds for many customers in the area.

Two main powerlines deliver electricity from Ballarat to Daylesford to 7952 customers, passing through some of the state’s most heavily vegetated areas. This makes the region prone to power outages, especially during major weather events.

Powercor crews repairing powerlines between Ballarat and Daylesford following major storms in June 2021.

Once completed, the solution will provide a “switch over” capability between the two powerlines. If a fault occurs on one line, the technology will detect its location, isolate the area, and automatically supply electricity via the other line to most customers.

This all happens in seconds.

Network Performance Manager Daniel Smith said these upgrades would deliver benefits to customers and build on recent reliability improvements to the local network.

“Our customers rely on us to provide the essential power they depend on every day and this system could deliver the largest single improvement in reliability for the Daylesford community,” Mr Smith said.

“This solution will reduce the size and length of some outages by automatically detecting the location of a fault on one major powerline and redirecting power through the other.”

Currently, when an outage occurs on one of the main lines, crews patrol and manually isolate and switch power, which can take at least 30 minutes depending on the fault’s location and complexity.

Powercor crews are now installing extra switching devices on the two main power lines and also new equipment that will act as the “brains” of the solution at the Ballarat North zone substation.

Power outages occur for different reasons, including storms, extreme wind, lightning, car accidents, vegetation and wildlife.

“While power outages will still occur, this technology will minimise their impact on our customers,” Mr Smith said.

In 2021, Powercor installed bushfire safety technology known as Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiters (REFCL) in the area as part of a Victorian Government program. REFCLs are keeping our communities safe but have also made the network more sensitive to potential faults.

In response, Powercor has invested in improving reliability within the region. Work has included installing REFCL-compatible new-generation automatic circuit recloser technology to reduce the size of outages, upgrading and strengthening infrastructure, installing animal and bark mitigation devices, and conducting additional network and vegetation inspections.

Construction and testing of the new solution are expected to be completed by the end of 2024.