Energy Fiji Limited has stressed that in the event of a cyclone-related power outage, the power restoration process takes a different approach with an extremely high safety focus.

The EFL Chief Executive Officer Hasmukh Patel says during cyclones an electricity network is impacted.

He says the power lines could be broken and poles may have fallen or displaced.

Patel says they will also have to fix their customer service mains which may be broken and their Pillar boxes which could have sustained water damage due to flooding.

He says their Cyclone Action Plan lists down the actions that need to be taken before, during, and after a cyclone by the various business units within EFL.

Patel stressed that the priority areas for power restoration include major hospitals and Health Centres, Water Pumping Stations, Water and Sewerage Treatment Plants, Central Business Districts, Commercial and Industrial Areas, and residential areas.

Immediately following a cyclone event, if required, a helicopter patrol is carried out of the EFL overhead transmission lines from the Wailoa Power Station to the Vuda Zone Substation in Lautoka and from the Wailoa Power Station to the Cunningham Road Zone Substation in Suva which stretches some 147.2km.

He says once the overhead transmission lines and the overhead sub-transmission lines have been thoroughly patrolled in Viti Levu, defects identified during the helicopter patrol are promptly programmed for priority repairs.

While the helicopter patrol is underway, diesel-generating stations at Kinoya, Korovou, Rokobili, Deuba, Sigatoka, Qeleloa, Nadi, Vuda and Rakiraki in Viti Levu are started as soon as they are checked and confirmed to be safe for operations, and power restoration to the distribution network commences to the priority areas as long as the power network to these areas has not been damaged.

Patel says while the inspection and repairs are underway, the Cawaira Power Station in Labasa, the Wainiqeu Mini Hydro Electric Power Station and Savusavu Power Stations are checked and confirmed to be safe for operations, and power restoration to the distribution network commences to the priority areas, as long as the power network to these areas has not been damaged, or if damaged, repairs have to be carried out as a priority.