Specialist crews have successfully lifted into place the first of six towers near Balranald, as a major reconstruction effort continues at pace to repair a 2km section of transmission line damaged by a significant storm event.
News
First towers rise in Balranald line reconstruction effort
29 January 2026
Eighty personnel are currently onsite after the severe storm on 19 January damaged six 220 kV transmission towers and conductors, as well as multiple panels on a neighbouring solar farm.
Two of six temporary towers have been erected, with the remainder to follow in coming days. Crews will then install high-voltage conductor before testing and energisation of the reconstructed line.
Power continues to be supplied to Balranald and surrounding communities via another transmission line.
Transgrid and Essential Energy are closely monitoring the local network during the extreme heatwave conditions. While we do not expect any impact to the network during the rectification works, we are continuing to work with Essential Energy to ensure adequate back-up power supply is available if required.
Transgrid General Manager of Operations and Maintenance Sam Pickering said crews are experiencing extreme weather and dust conditions onsite as they carry out the complex operation.
“We thank our landowner, customers and local communities for their patience and understanding as we carry out these essential transmission works as quickly and safely as possible,” Mr Pickering said.
“I would also like to thank our hard-working personnel and contractors who are operating in difficult conditions, with temperatures exceeding 50 degrees onsite on some days.
“We have had to adjust our normal procedures to account for the extreme heat, which has made the operation more complex, but our teams are committed to completing the work safely and efficiently.
“A range of mitigation measures have been put in place, on top of our standard safety provisions, to support personnel in managing the extreme weather conditions. These include working during the cooler morning and late afternoon to avoid peak temperatures, ongoing heat risk assessments and work stoppages if required.
“Transgrid is working directly with a small number of generators in NSW and Victoria to restore their
network connections once the transmission line is returned to service.”
The transmission line works are expected to be completed on Wednesday (4 February) pending weather conditions.
Media enquiries: Mark Nolan 0429 047 136