Essential Energy - protecting against bush fires

Innovation changing the way we manage bushfire risk

​Bringing together technology and teamwork to protect regional, rural and remote New South Wales

As bushfire seasons become longer and more unpredictable, Essential Energy is turning to new technology and research partnerships to help manage the risks communities face across regional, rural and remote New South Wales. Once an anomaly but now a regular part of life, storms, floods, fires and extreme weather events have challenged networks to evolve their approach to keep the network safer and more reliable.  

Advanced bushfire risk modelling, developed in partnership with the University of Melbourne and electricity networks across New South Wales, gives us a far clearer picture of where bushfire danger lies, according to Essential Energy’s Network Risk Strategy Manager, Ian Fitzpatrick.  

 “This technology brings together data on past bushfire events, weather patterns, vegetation and network characteristics to estimate not only where a fire is most likely to start, but what the impact could be on people, property and the environment if it spreads. So far, thanks to this technology, we’ve been able to pinpoint how the fire risk varies across our vast network,” Ian says. 

For example, along the Mid North Coast, where the natural environment is dense, our models show the bushfire risk is higher than before. However, our learnings allow our teams and crews to target the areas where work is needed most - trimming vegetation and repairing assets before the summer heat turns small hazards into bigger problems.   

Beyond the modelling, it’s important we’re able to take a closer look at the network, which is being made more efficient due to our evolving drone and helicopter fleet. Where previously low flying small planes were used, drones and helicopter mounted cameras are now at the forefront, providing sharper, more detailed views in more areas across the network.  

Essential Energy is also trialling artificial intelligence (AI) to review inspection photos, speeding up defect identification and enabling faster response times. In addition, new pole mounted sensors called Early Fault Detection (EFD’s) are being installed to alert for emerging faults. This technology means we can move from simply finding problems to fixing them sooner, reducing bushfire risk and improving reliability for communities. 

Looking ahead, we will continue to invest in new technology and build on our partnerships locally, statewide and internationally to improve the safety and reliability of the network for our communities. By working with all NSW electricity networks and drawing on the expertise of the University of Melbourne, we’re ensuring a consistent, best-practice approach to bushfire risk. Our team also collaborates through national and international forums like Energy Networks Australia (ENA) and the International Wildfire Risk Mitigation Consortium (IWRMC).  

“Collaboration is key to tackling bushfire risk. Our network stretches across some of the most diverse and challenging landscapes in New South Wales. With bushfire seasons growing longer and extreme weather events becoming more frequent, we can’t rely on old ways of working. By sharing knowledge and harnessing new technology, every year we’re improving how we manage risk and improve resilience across the network,” Ian says. 

To learn more about how Essential Energy is using technology and partnerships to keep communities safe, read our full Bushfire Preparedness and Performance Report. The report offers a detailed look at our latest initiatives, results, and plans for the future.