The majority of businesses on Benalla’s main street were left without power on September 19 from 8.30am to 4.30pm, with trading closing and locals left unable to access shops and essential services such as pharmacies, optometrists and banks.
The outages extended from Bridge St East and West, Avon St, Barkly St, Calder St, Clarendon St, Coster St, Crammond St, Gray St, Lumsden Lane, Reilly Ave, Salisbury St and Smyth St.
These scheduled outages follow an array of unplanned outages that have impacted residents and businesses across the town, including one on August 18 that left some in Benalla and the surrounding region without power for an entire day due to underground cable faults under the Hume Hwy.
Melisse Robinson, owner of the Tatong Tavern, said she had lost tens of thousands of dollars this year due to unplanned outages.
“It is a significant loss of income to our small business,” Ms Robinson said.
“We experience short-term power loss at least once per week.”
With yet another outage scheduled all day on September 26 set to impact a further 200 residents, Ms Cleeland said it was time for the government to step in and ensure Benalla’s unreliable electricity supply was properly managed.
“The constant power outages impacting Benalla cannot continue,” Ms Cleeland said.
“I understand that there is a need for occasional maintenance, however local residents and businesses should not be impacted as regularly as they are.
“My office has heard from several constituents who have struggled during these outages, including those with disabilities, the elderly, and business owners.
“I have written to the Minister for Energy to investigate the frequency of these outages and to ensure these do not remain a constant burden on our local community.”
