Sonali Tiwary
Power Outages Hit NSW Northern Rivers (~2,500 Customers), Lesvos Island, and Venezuela — Global Grid Resilience Roundup
Severe storms at 6:14 PM Wednesday knocked out power to 3,848 customers initially (peaking above 9,000 across the region) in NSW’s Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast, with 5,000+ restored overnight and 2,520 still off-grid at 8:00 AM Thursday, November 12 in Rileys Hill, Bagotville, and north of Woodburn. Greece’s non-interconnected island of Lesvos (84,000 residents, ~19% renewable share on 21 MW capacity) suffered an island-wide blackout. Venezuela faces ~200 daily blackouts and 4-hour rationing because the 10,200 MW Guri Dam supplies 73% of national power while thermal plants run at just 6% capacity.
If you are among the 2,520 Essential Energy customers still without power this morning in Rileys Hill, Bagotville, Broadwater, or north of Woodburn, crews are actively clearing fallen trees after restoring 5,000 homes overnight. Stay at least eight metres away from any downed powerlines or damaged poles, report faults to Essential Energy on 13 20 80, and call 000 immediately if you rely on life-support equipment.
Essential Energy Restores 5,000 Overnight vs Venezuela’s 6% Thermal Backup and 200 Daily Blackouts
In a single night, Essential Energy crews in rural NSW restored over 5,000 storm-damaged homes, whereas in oil-rich Venezuela, thermal backup availability sits at just 6% — leaving citizens with ~200 blackouts a day whenever Guri Dam hydro output fluctuates. Lesvos, with 84,000 residents and ~19% renewable share on 21 MW capacity, highlights island grid vulnerability without mainland interconnection.
Which NSW Northern Rivers areas are still without power after Wednesday’s storm? As of 8:00 AM on Thursday, November 12, approximately 2,520 Essential Energy customers remain without power across the Northern Rivers, primarily in Rileys Hill, Bagotville, and areas north of Woodburn. Over 5,000 customers in Coraki, Bora Ridge, Swan Bay, and Dungarubba had power restored overnight.
